Break statement in C - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to exit the loop when i equals 5.

C

for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
    if(i == 5) {
        [1];
    }
    printf("%d\n", i);
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Acontinue

Breturn

Cexit

Dbreak

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using continue instead of break, which skips the rest of the loop iteration but does not exit the loop.

Using return or exit which exit the function or program instead of just the loop.

The break statement immediately exits the nearest enclosing loop.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to stop the while loop when count reaches 3.

C

int count = 0;
while(1) {
    if(count == 3) {
        [1];
    }
    printf("Count: %d\n", count);
    count++;
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Acontinue

Bexit

Cbreak

Dreturn

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using continue which skips the current iteration but does not exit the loop.

Using exit or return which exit the program or function.

break exits the loop when count equals 3.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to exit the for loop when num is 7.

C

for(int num = 0; num < 10; num++) {
    if(num == 7) {
        [1];
    }
    printf("%d\n", num);
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Acontinue

Bbreak

Cexit()

Dreturn

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using continue which does not exit the loop.

Using exit() or return which exit the program or function.

break exits the loop correctly; exit() and return affect the program or function, not just the loop.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a loop that prints numbers until it reaches 4, then stops.

C

for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
    if(i [1] 4) {
        [2];
    }
    printf("%d\n", i);
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A==

B<

Cbreak

Dcontinue

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using < instead of == in the condition.

Using continue instead of break to exit the loop.

The condition i == 4 triggers break to exit the loop.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a loop that stops printing when the character 'q' is found in the array.

C

char letters[] = {'a', 'b', 'c', 'q', 'd'};
for(int [1] = 0; [2] < 5; [3]++) {
    if(letters[i] == 'q') {
        break;
    }
    printf("%c\n", letters[i]);
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Ai

Dj

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using different variable names in the loop declaration.

Using a variable not declared or inconsistent.

The loop variable i is used consistently in initialization, condition, and increment.

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