Bite-sized JavaScript: Loops and Iterations

In JavaScript, a loop is a programming structure that allows you to repeat a specific block of code multiple times. With loops, you can execute the same code over and over again until a specific condition is met.

Bite-sized JavaScript: Loops and Iterations
Photo by Önder Örtel / Unsplash

Hey there! Today, we’re going to be discussing JavaScript loops – one of the most essential concepts in programming. As a developer, you’ll use loops every day to repeat a specific action until a certain condition is met.

In this article, we’ll be exploring three different types of loops in JavaScript: for loops, while loops, and do-while loops. We’ll also cover the syntax and show you some practical code examples.

Let’s get started!

For Loops A for loop is one of the most commonly used loops in JavaScript. It allows you to execute a block of code a specific number of times. A for loop has three main parts:

  1. The initialization of the variable that will be used as a counter.
  2. The condition that will be checked on each iteration.
  3. The increment or decrement of the counter.

Here’s an example of a for loop that will iterate five times:

for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
  console.log(i);
}

In this example, the loop starts with the variable i set to 0. The condition is that i must be less than 5 for the loop to continue. Finally, i is incremented by one on each iteration.

While Loops A while loop is another type of loop that allows you to execute a block of code while a certain condition is true. The syntax for a while loop is as follows:

while (condition) {
  // code to be executed
}

Here’s an example of a while loop:

let i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
  console.log(i);
  i++;
}

In this example, the loop will continue to execute as long as i is less than 5. On each iteration, i is incremented by one.

Do-While Loops A do-while loop is very similar to a while loop, with one key difference – the code inside the loop will always be executed at least once, even if the condition is false. Here’s the syntax for a do-while loop:

do {
  // code to be executed
} while (condition);

Here’s an example of a do-while loop:

let i = 0;
do {
  console.log(i);
  i++;
} while (i < 5);

In this example, the loop will execute once even if i is greater than 5. After the first iteration, the loop will only continue to execute as long as i is less than 5.

Conclusion Loops are an essential part of JavaScript programming. With for loops, while loops, and do-while loops, you can create powerful and flexible code that can be repeated as many times as necessary.

By now, you should be familiar with the basic syntax and usage of each loop. So go ahead and start experimenting with loops in your own code, and see what amazing things you can create!