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 snippet?

C++

#include <iostream>
int main() {
    for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
        if (i == 3) {
            break;
        }
        std::cout << i << " ";
    }
    return 0;
}

A 0 1 2 3

B 0 1 2 3 4

C 3 4

D 0 1 2

💡 Hint

The break statement stops the loop when i equals 3.

The loop prints numbers starting from 0. When i reaches 3, break stops the loop, so only 0, 1, and 2 are printed.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Break inside nested loops

What is the output of this C++ code?

C++

#include <iostream>
int main() {
    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
        for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
            if (j == 1) {
                break;
            }
            std::cout << i << j << " ";
        }
    }
    return 0;
}

A 00 10 20

B 00 01 10 11 20 21

C 00 10 20 21 22

D 00 01 02 10 11 12 20 21 22

💡 Hint

Break stops the inner loop when j equals 1.

The inner loop prints j=0 then breaks when j=1, so for each i, only i0 is printed.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Break in while loop with condition

What is the output of this C++ program?

C++

#include <iostream>
int main() {
    int count = 0;
    while (true) {
        if (count == 4) {
            break;
        }
        std::cout << count << " ";
        count++;
    }
    return 0;
}

A 0 1 2 3 4 5

B 0 1 2 3 4

C 0 1 2 3

D 1 2 3 4

💡 Hint

Break stops the loop when count reaches 4, so 4 is not printed.

The loop prints count starting at 0. When count equals 4, break stops the loop before printing 4.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Break effect on switch-case

What is the output of this C++ code?

C++

#include <iostream>
int main() {
    int x = 2;
    switch (x) {
        case 1:
            std::cout << "One ";
            break;
        case 2:
            std::cout << "Two ";
            break;
        case 3:
            std::cout << "Three ";
        default:
            std::cout << "Default ";
    }
    return 0;
}

A One Two

B Two

C Two Default

D One Two Default

💡 Hint

Break stops execution after printing "Two ".

Switch starts at case 2, prints "Two ", then break stops further cases from running.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Break statement behavior in nested loops

Consider this C++ code snippet. Which statement is true about the effect of the break statement inside the inner loop?

C++

#include <iostream>
int main() {
    for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
        for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
            if (i == j) {
                break;
            }
            std::cout << i << j << " ";
        }
    }
    return 0;
}

A The break stops only the inner loop when i equals j, outer loop continues.

B The break stops both inner and outer loops immediately when i equals j.

C The break causes a compile-time error because it is inside nested loops.

D The break stops the outer loop only, inner loop continues.

💡 Hint

Break affects only the loop it is directly inside.

Break stops the closest enclosing loop, here the inner loop. The outer loop continues normally.