For vs While loop in C

The both for and while loops are used for iterative control flow, allowing you to repeat a block of code multiple times. However, they have slightly different syntax and use cases. Here’s an overview of both for and while loops in C:

for Loop:

The for loop is a control flow statement that allows you to execute a block of code repeatedly for a specified number of iterations. It is typically used when you know the exact number of times you want the loop to run.

Syntax of a for loop:

for (initialization; condition; increment/decrement) {
    // Code to be executed repeatedly
}

• initialization: This part is executed once at the beginning of the loop and is used to initialize a loop control variable.
• condition: It is a Boolean expression that is evaluated before each iteration. If the condition is true, the loop continues; otherwise, it terminates.
• increment/decrement: This part is executed after each iteration and is used to update the loop control variable.

Example of a for loop:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
        printf("Iteration %d\n", i);
    }
    return 0;
}

This for loop will run five times, and i is incremented in each iteration.

while Loop:

The while loop is another control flow statement used for repetitive execution of a block of code. It is often used when you don’t know the exact number of iterations in advance, and the loop continues as long as a specified condition is true.

Syntax of a while loop:

while (condition) {
    // Code to be executed repeatedly
}

• condition: It is a Boolean expression that is evaluated before each iteration. If the condition is true, the loop continues; otherwise, it terminates.

Example of a while loop:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int count = 1;
    while (count <= 5) {
        printf("Iteration %d\n", count);
        count++;
    }
    return 0;
}

This while loop will run as long as count is less than or equal to 5, and count is incremented in each iteration.

Choosing Between for and while:

• Use a for loop when you know the number of iterations in advance or need to control the loop variable more explicitly.
• Use a while loop when you want the loop to continue until a specific condition becomes false, and you may not know the number of iterations in advance.

Both for and while loops are powerful and flexible constructs, and the choice between them depends on the specific requirements of your program.