Difference Between For Loop and While Loop
Programming languages contain a lot of fundamental components that developers use to create functional software. Two examples of these components are for loops and while loops. Both of these loops are used for iteration, but they differ in some key ways. In this article, we will take a look at these differences and when to use each loop.
For Loops
A for loop is a type of loop that iterates over a block of code based on a certain set of conditions. These conditions include a starting point, an ending point, and a step size. For loops are used when you know exactly how many times you want to execute the code block. This is because for loops iterate through a range of numbers specified by the programmer.
For example, a for loop may be used in a program that needs to perform a certain task for each item in an array. The programmer can use a for loop to ensure that every item in the array is processed.
While Loops
While loops, on the other hand, are used when you don’t know exactly how many times you want to execute the code block. These loops will continue to execute until a certain condition is met. The condition is typically a Boolean expression that evaluates to either true or false.
While loops are useful when you need to iterate over a set of data that will change over time. For example, a while loop might be used to process a list of user input until the user enters a specific value.
Differences Between For Loops and While Loops
One key difference between for loops and while loops is their syntax. With a for loop, you need to specify the starting point, ending point, and step size. While loops, on the other hand, require you to define the condition that will stop the loop.
Another difference is the control variables used by each loop. For loops use a control variable that is incremented or decremented each time the loop executes. While loops use a separate conditional statement that evaluates to either true or false.
When to Use For Loops vs. While Loops
For loops are typically used when you know exactly how many times you want to execute a block of code or when you need to iterate through a range of values. While loops are a better option when you need to loop through data that will change over time or when you don’t know exactly how many times the loop needs to execute.
In conclusion, both for loops and while loops are useful tools for developers. Understanding the differences between these loops and when to use each will help you write more efficient and effective code.
Table difference between for loop and while loop
| For loop | While loop |
|---|---|
| For loops are very useful when we know the number of times we want to iterate through a code block. | While loops are useful when we don’t know the number of times we want to iterate through a code block, but we want to continue until a condition is no longer true. |
| It is suitable for iterating through a given range or sequence. | It is suitable for iterating until a particular condition is met. |
| For loops are faster and efficient when working with pre-defined sequences because they know exactly how many times they should loop through the code block. | While loops can be slower and less efficient than for loops because they continuously check the condition in every iteration. |
| It is typically used when we want to execute a code block a specific number of times. | It is typically used when we want to execute a code block until a particular condition is no longer true. |
| The syntax of for loop is: for (start; condition; increment){ code block } | The syntax of while loop is: while (condition) { code block } |