Loop Basics

Reading

1. Read this code. (Remember to run the code for yourself, see what it does, and try experimenting with it. Here are the instructions.)

Important concepts

• for-each loop
• while loop
• “C-style” for loop
• break, continue
• infinite loop
• off-by-one error

Things to consider (exercises for yourself, not to turn in)

1. What is the purpose of each of the three expressions that appear in the control line of a C-style for loop?
2. The reading mentions three common looping patters that we use in programming: “repeat until sentinel,” which uses a while loop; “do n times,” which uses a for loop in Java; and “for each element,” which also uses a for loop in Java. In what situations would you want to use each one of these?

Your response

What was particularly interesting, confusing, or exciting to you in this reading?