Loops

Core idea

Loops repeat a block of code, which saves you from writing the same instruction again and again.

Common loop types

• for is useful when you know how many times to repeat.
• while is useful when repetition depends on a condition.

for loop example

#include <iostream>

int main() {
  for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
    std::cout << "Count: " << i << "\n";
  }
}

while loop example

#include <iostream>

int main() {
  int count = 1;

  while (count <= 3) {
    std::cout << count << "\n";
    count++;
  }
}

Revision points

• A loop needs a clear stopping condition.
• Update the loop variable, or the loop may never end.
• Start with small counting examples before using loops in bigger programs.

What to remember

If a task repeats, a loop is usually a better idea than copying code.

Next step

After loops, functions help you organize repeated logic into reusable blocks.