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.

Practice

1.

What does the break statement do inside a loop in C?

easy

A. It immediately exits the loop and continues with the code after the loop.

B. It pauses the loop for a moment and then continues.

C. It restarts the loop from the beginning.

D. It skips the current iteration and moves to the next one.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of break in loops

   The break statement is designed to stop the loop immediately when executed.

2. Step 2: Identify what happens after break

   After breaking, the program continues with the first statement after the loop block.

3. Final Answer:

   It immediately exits the loop and continues with the code after the loop. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Break stops loop immediately = A [OK]

Hint: Break exits loop immediately, no more iterations [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing break with continue
• Thinking break pauses the loop
• Assuming break restarts the loop

2.

Which of the following is the correct syntax to use break inside a for loop in C?

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

easy

A. exit;

B. continue;

C. break;

D. stop;

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the keyword to exit loops

   In C, break; is the correct statement to exit loops immediately.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   Only break; is a valid C keyword; others like exit; or stop; are invalid here.

3. Final Answer:

   break; -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Correct break syntax = D [OK]

Hint: Use 'break;' to exit loops, not 'exit;' or 'stop;' [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'exit;' instead of 'break;'
• Confusing 'continue;' with 'break;'
• Missing semicolon after break

3.

What will be the output of the following C code?

int i;
for(i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    if(i == 2) {
        break;
    }
    printf("%d ", i);
}

medium

A. 0 1

B. 0 1 2

C. 2

D. 0 1 2 3 4

Solution

1. Step 1: Trace loop iterations until break

   The loop starts i=0, prints 0; i=1, prints 1; when i=2, break triggers and loop stops.

2. Step 2: Determine printed values

   Only 0 and 1 are printed before break stops the loop.

3. Final Answer:

   0 1 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Break at i=2 stops loop, prints 0 1 [OK]

Hint: Break stops loop before printing i=2 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including value at break condition in output
• Confusing break with continue
• Assuming loop runs fully

4.

Identify the error in this C code snippet using break:

int i = 0;
if(i == 0) {
    break;
}

medium

A. Variable i not declared

B. Missing semicolon after break

C. No error, code is correct

D. break used outside loop or switch statement

Solution

1. Step 1: Check where break is used

   The break statement is inside an if but not inside a loop or switch.

2. Step 2: Recall break usage rules

   In C, break must be inside loops or switch; using it outside causes a compile error.

3. Final Answer:

   break used outside loop or switch statement -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Break outside loop/switch = error [OK]

Hint: Break only inside loops or switch [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using break inside if without loop
• Forgetting break requires semicolon (not the main error here)
• Assuming break works anywhere

5.

Consider the nested loops below. What will be the output?

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

hard

A. 13 12 11

B. 11 21 31

C. 11 12 13 21 22 23 31 32 33

D. 11 12 21 22 31 32

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze inner loop behavior with break

   Inner loop runs j=1 to 3, but breaks when j==2, so only j=1 prints.

2. Step 2: Trace all iterations

   For i=1, prints 11; i=2 prints 21; i=3 prints 31; each inner loop stops after j=1.

3. Final Answer:

   11 21 31 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Break stops inner loop at j=2, prints only j=1 per i [OK]

Hint: Break stops inner loop early, only first inner print per outer loop [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming inner loop prints all j values
• Confusing break effect on outer loop
• Including j=2 prints