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Thread: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

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    Default For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

     
    package myNewTest;
     
    public class MyNewTest {
     
    	public static void main(String[] args) {
     
    		for (int i=0; i<=5; i++) {
    			System.out.println("Outer for loop: i = " + i);
     
    			while (i<=3) {
    				System.out.println("Inner while loop: i = " + i);
    				i++;
    			}
    		}
    	}
    }

    Answer:

    Outer for loop: i = 0
    Inner while loop: i = 0
    Inner while loop: i = 1
    Inner while loop: i = 2
    Inner while loop: i = 3
    Outer for loop: i = 5

    My question: Once i = 4 control breaks out of the inner while loop and returns to the outer for loop. Why doesn't it print "Outer for loop: i = 4" before printing "Outer for loop: i = 5"?
    Last edited by LyndonS; February 1st, 2021 at 06:30 PM.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

    Why doesn't it print "Outer for loop: i = 4"
    Because the print statement is after the for statement which incremented the value in i. If the print statement were executed before the end of for statement by having the print statement before the end of for loop, then the value of i would be 4.

    Add this after the while loop:
        System.out.println("After while loop: i = " + i);

    Please edit your post and wrap your code with code tags:

    [code]
    **YOUR CODE GOES HERE**
    [/code]

    to get highlighting and preserve formatting.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

     
    for (int i=0; i<=5; i++) {
         System.out.println("Outer for loop: i = " + i);

    i is 4 after it breaks out of the while loop and before it re-enters the above for loop. Since 4 <= 5, I thought the next line of code "System.out.println("Outer for loop: i = " + i)" would be executed before i++ in the code "for (int=0; i<=5; i++)" was iterrated?

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    Default Re: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

    Where in the for loop would the value in i be incremented? If its value is 4 after the while loop, where would it be changed to 5?

    --- Update ---

    If the value of i is 4 on exit from the while loop, where will it be incremented to 5?
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

    My understanding is for loops work in the following way:

    for (statement 1; statement 2; statement 3) {

    The code block to be executed would appear here

    }

    Statement 1 is executed only one time: It is executed before Statement 2 or Statement 3 are executed and before the code block is executed – the code block is only executed if Statement 2 evaluates to true. Statement 1 simply sets a variable before the loop starts.

    Statement 2 defines the criteria which determines if the code block will be executed. If the criteria is met, the code block is executed before Statement 3 is executed. If the criteria is not met, the code block is not executed.

    Statement 3 is executed after the code block is executed.

    Consequently, my understanding is after the code breaks out of the while loop i = 4 and the following should occur:

    [code=Java]

    for (int i=0; i<=5; i++) {
    System.out.println("Outer for loop: i = " + i);

    [\code]

    4<=5 is true. Therefore, the code block would be executed BEFORE i is iterated again. This would print: Outer for loop: i = 4.
    After the code block is executed, i would then be iterated and equal 5.

    5<=5 is true. Therefore, the code block would be executed BEFORE i is iterated again. This would print: Outer for loop: i = 5.
    After the code block is executed, i would then be iterated and equal 6.

    6<=5 is false causing the code to exit the program.

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    Default Re: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

    If the value of i is 4 on exit from the while loop, where will it be incremented to 5?
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

    My understanding of how this code should work is as follows:

    After i is iterated to 4 at the bottom of the inner while loop, it then evaluates statement 2 of the inner while loop. Since 4<=3 is false, it then exits the inner while loop and returns control back to the outer for loop.

    i = 4 as it now enters the for loop for the second time. It then evaluates statement 2 of the outer for loop. Since 4<=5 is true, it then should execute any statements within the curly braces/code block. Therefore, it should print: Outer for loop: i = 4.

    AFTER the for code block(s) are completed then it iterates to 5 and evaluates statement 2 of the outer for loop for a third time. Since 5<=5 is true, it then executes any statements within the curly braces/code block. Therefore, it prints: Outer for loop: i = 5.

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    Default Re: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

    Number the the parts of the code:
    1 the for statement
    2 body of code in loop
    3 end of for statement

    i is 4 when execution exits 2
    i is 4 when execution bounces off 3
    i is incremented to 5 at 1
    code prints 5
    i is 5 after 2( while not executed because i > 3
    i is 5 at bounce off 3
    i is incremented to 6 at 1
    i > 5 execution leaves for loop
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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    Default Re: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

    Are you telling me when i enters the for loop it is 4 but as soon as it determines 4>=5 it then iterates to 5 - BEFORE performing any other evaluations/actions?

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    Default Re: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

    When execution iterates back to the top of for statement, the increment section is executed and then the test for termination is done.

    Read the tutorial: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutor...bolts/for.html
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  11. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Norm For This Useful Post:

    LyndonS (February 1st, 2021), risen28 (April 26th, 2021)

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    Thumbs up Re: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I knew that but had forgotten after going through the while statement that it had never iterated the first time. I was concentrating on the inner while loop so much that I forgot.

    You have made my night! Thanks!

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    Default Re: For loop not executing as expected - Very simple coding

    You are welcome. That was a tough one. I'm glad you have worked it out.
    If you don't understand my answer, don't ignore it, ask a question.

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