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Break, Continue, Goto in C

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Introduction

In C programming, sometimes we need to control the flow of loops and statements.
This is done using jump statements like:

• break
• continue
• goto

👉 These statements help us change the normal execution of a program.

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What are Jump Statements?

Jump statements are used to:

• Skip some part of code
• Exit loops early
• Jump to another part of the program

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1. break Statement

The break statement is used to exit a loop immediately.

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Syntax

break;

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Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int i;

    for (i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
        if (i == 3) {
            break;
        }
        printf("%d\n", i);
    }

    return 0;
}

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Output

1
2

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Explanation

👉 Loop stops when i == 3

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2. continue Statement

The continue statement is used to skip the current iteration and move to the next one.

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Syntax

continue;

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Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int i;

    for (i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
        if (i == 3) {
            continue;
        }
        printf("%d\n", i);
    }

    return 0;
}

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Output

1
2
4
5

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Explanation

👉 Number 3 is skipped

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3. goto Statement

The goto statement is used to jump to a labeled statement.

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Syntax

goto label;

label:
    // code

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Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int i = 1;

start:
    if (i <= 3) {
        printf("%d\n", i);
        i++;
        goto start;
    }

    return 0;
}

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Output

1
2
3

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⚠️ Important Note

👉 Avoid excessive use of goto
👉 It can make code hard to understand

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Comparison Table

Statement	Purpose	Effect
break	Exit loop	Stops loop immediately
continue	Skip iteration	Skips current loop step
goto	Jump control	Moves to labeled statement

Common Mistakes

• ❌ Using break outside loop
• ❌ Misusing continue
• ❌ Overusing goto
• ❌ Infinite loops with goto

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Pro Tips

• ✔ Use break to exit loops early
• ✔ Use continue to skip unwanted cases
• ✔ Avoid goto unless necessary
• ✔ Write clean and readable code

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Conclusion

break, continue, and goto are powerful control statements in C. They help manage program flow efficiently.

Use them wisely to write better programs.

👉 This article is part of Dharani Tech Edu Hub — where learning programming is made simple and practical.