Continue statement in C++

Introduction

The continue statement helps skip the rest of the current loop cycle and move to the next one. It lets you ignore certain steps without stopping the whole loop.

When you want to skip processing some items in a list but keep looping through the rest.

When checking conditions inside a loop and you want to ignore some cases quickly.

When filtering data inside a loop and only want to act on certain values.

When you want to avoid nested if-else blocks by skipping unwanted cases early.

Syntax

C++

continue;

The continue statement is used inside loops like for, while, or do-while.

It immediately jumps to the next iteration of the loop, skipping any code below it in the current cycle.

Examples

This loop skips printing the number 2 by using continue.

C++

for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    if (i == 2) {
        continue;
    }
    std::cout << i << " ";
}

In this while loop, when i is 3, it skips printing and goes to the next iteration.

C++

int i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
    i++;
    if (i == 3) continue;
    std::cout << i << " ";
}

Sample Program

This program prints numbers from 1 to 6 but skips 3 and 5 using the continue statement.

C++

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Numbers except 3 and 5:\n";
    for (int i = 1; i <= 6; i++) {
        if (i == 3 || i == 5) {
            continue;
        }
        std::cout << i << " ";
    }
    std::cout << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

Important Notes

Using continue can make your loops cleaner by avoiding deep nesting of if statements.

Be careful not to create infinite loops by skipping the part that changes the loop variable.

Summary

continue skips the rest of the current loop cycle and moves to the next.

It works inside for, while, and do-while loops.

Use it to ignore certain cases without stopping the whole loop.

Practice

1. What does the continue statement do inside a loop in C++?

easy

A. It stops the entire loop immediately.

B. It skips the rest of the current loop iteration and moves to the next iteration.

C. It exits the current function.

D. It restarts the program from the beginning.

Solution

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

   The continue statement tells the program to skip the remaining code in the current loop cycle.

2. Step 2: Identify what happens after continue

   After skipping, the loop moves to the next iteration immediately without executing the rest of the loop body.

3. Final Answer:

   It skips the rest of the current loop iteration and moves to the next iteration. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Continue skips current iteration [OK]

Hint: Continue skips current loop step, not whole loop [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking continue stops the loop completely
• Confusing continue with break
• Assuming continue exits the function

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to use continue inside a for loop in C++?

easy

A. continue;

B. continue()

C. continue{}

D. continue[]

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the syntax of continue in C++

   The continue statement is a keyword and used alone followed by a semicolon.

2. Step 2: Check each option's syntax

   Only continue; is valid. The others use parentheses or braces which are incorrect.

3. Final Answer:

   continue; -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Continue ends with semicolon [OK]

Hint: Continue is a keyword, ends with semicolon [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding parentheses after continue
• Using braces or brackets with continue
• Omitting the semicolon

3. What will be the output of the following C++ code?

for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
    if (i == 3) continue;
    std::cout << i << " ";
}

medium

A. 1 2 3 4 5

B. 1 2 3 4

C. 1 2 4 5

D. 2 3 4 5

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the loop and condition

   The loop runs from 1 to 5. When i == 3, the continue skips printing.

2. Step 2: Determine printed values

   Numbers 1 and 2 print normally. At 3, continue skips printing. Then 4 and 5 print.

3. Final Answer:

   1 2 4 5 -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Skip 3, print others [OK]

Hint: Continue skips printing 3, others print [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including 3 in output
• Stopping loop at 3
• Printing numbers after 3 incorrectly

4. Identify the error in the following C++ code snippet:

for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    if (i == 2)
        continue
    std::cout << i << " ";
}

medium

A. No error in the code.

B. Incorrect loop condition.

C. Wrong variable type for i.

D. Missing semicolon after continue statement.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check syntax of continue statement

   The continue statement must end with a semicolon.

2. Step 2: Identify missing semicolon

   In the code, continue is not followed by a semicolon, causing a syntax error.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing semicolon after continue statement. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Continue needs semicolon [OK]

Hint: Always put semicolon after continue [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting semicolon after continue
• Assuming continue needs parentheses
• Misreading loop condition as error

5. Consider the following code that sums numbers from 1 to 10 but skips multiples of 3 using continue. What is the final sum?

int sum = 0;
for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
    if (i % 3 == 0) continue;
    sum += i;
}
std::cout << sum;

hard

A. 52

B. 55

C. 45

D. 50

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify numbers skipped by continue

   Numbers divisible by 3 (3, 6, 9) are skipped and not added to sum.

2. Step 2: Calculate sum of numbers 1 to 10 excluding 3, 6, 9

   Sum 1+2+4+5+7+8+10 = 37 + 15 = 52

3. Final Answer:

   52 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Sum excluding multiples of 3 = 52 [OK]

Hint: Skip multiples of 3, sum others [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including multiples of 3 in sum
• Adding all numbers 1 to 10
• Misunderstanding continue effect