Break statement in C - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of break in a for loop

What is the output of this C code?

C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
        if (i == 3) {
            break;
        }
        printf("%d ", i);
    }
    return 0;
}

A 0 1 2 3 4

B 0 1 2

C 3 4

D 0 1 2 3

💡 Hint

Remember, break stops the loop immediately when the condition is met.

The loop prints numbers from 0 up to but not including 3. When i == 3, the break stops the loop, so 3 and 4 are not printed.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Break inside nested loops

What will be the output of this C program?

C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
        for (int j = 1; j <= 3; j++) {
            if (j == 2) {
                break;
            }
            printf("%d%d ", i, j);
        }
    }
    return 0;
}

A 11 21 31

B 11 12 21 22 31 32

C 11 12 13 21 22 23 31 32 33

D 13 12 11

💡 Hint

The break only exits the inner loop when j == 2.

For each i, the inner loop prints i1 then breaks when j == 2. So only 11, 21, and 31 are printed.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Break in while loop with condition

What is the output of this C code?

C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int count = 0;
    while (count < 10) {
        if (count == 5) {
            break;
        }
        printf("%d ", count);
        count++;
    }
    return 0;
}

A 0 1 2 3 4

B 0 1 2 3 4 5

C 5 6 7 8 9

D 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

💡 Hint

The break stops the loop before printing 5.

The loop prints numbers starting from 0. When count reaches 5, the break stops the loop, so 5 is not printed.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Break in switch statement

What will be the output of this C program?

C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int x = 2;
    switch (x) {
        case 1:
            printf("One\n");
            break;
        case 2:
            printf("Two\n");
        case 3:
            printf("Three\n");
            break;
        default:
            printf("Default\n");
    }
    return 0;
}

A Three\n

B Two\n

C Two\nThree\n

D Default\n

💡 Hint

Without a break after case 2, execution continues to case 3.

The switch matches case 2 and prints "Two". Because there is no break after it, it continues to case 3 and prints "Three" before breaking.

❓ Predict Output

expert

Break effect on multiple nested loops

What is the output of this C program?

C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int i, j;
    for (i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
        for (j = 1; j <= 3; j++) {
            if (i * j == 4) {
                break;
            }
            printf("%d%d ", i, j);
        }
    }
    return 0;
}

A 11 12 21 22 31

B 11 12 21 31 32

C 11 12 21 22 31 32

D 11 12 13 21 31 32 33

💡 Hint

The break stops only the inner loop when i * j == 4.

For i=1, no break occurs (1*1=1, 1*2=2, 1*3=3), prints 11 12 13. For i=2, prints 21 (2*1=2), then at j=2 (2*2=4) break skips printing 22 and 23. For i=3, no break (3*1=3, 6, 9), prints 31 32 33.