Jump statement overview in C++ - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Jump statement overview

Start Execution

↓

Normal Code Runs

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Jump Statement?

No→Continue Normal Execution

Yes↓

Jump to Target

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Resume Execution at Target

↓

End or Loop Back

The program runs normally until it hits a jump statement, then it jumps to a specific point and continues execution from there.

Execution Sample

C++

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

This code uses a break jump statement to exit the loop early when i equals 3.

Execution Table

Iteration	i	Condition i<5	If i==3?	Action	Output
1	0	True	False	Print 0	0
2	1	True	False	Print 1	1
3	2	True	False	Print 2	2
4	3	True	True	Break loop
-	-	False	-	Exit loop	-

💡 Loop breaks when i == 3, so it stops before printing 3.

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After 1	After 2	After 3	Final
i	0	1	2	3	3

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why does the loop stop printing numbers after 2?

Because at iteration 4, i equals 3, the condition 'if(i == 3)' is true, so the break statement runs and exits the loop early (see execution_table row 4).

Does the break statement skip just the current iteration or the whole loop?

The break statement exits the entire loop immediately, not just skipping one iteration. This is shown in the execution_table where after break, the loop ends.

What happens if the break condition never becomes true?

The loop runs all iterations normally, printing all values from 0 to 4, because the break is never triggered.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, what is the value of i when the loop breaks?

A 2

B 4

C 3

D 5

💡 Hint

Check the row where 'Action' is 'Break loop' in the execution_table.

At which iteration does the condition 'i < 5' become false?

A Iteration 5

B It never becomes false because of break

C Iteration 4

D Iteration 3

💡 Hint

Look at the exit_note and the last row of execution_table.

If we remove the break statement, what will be the output after all iterations?

A 0 1 2 3 4

B 0 1 2

C 3 4

D No output

💡 Hint

Refer to the key_moments explanation about what happens if break never triggers.

Concept Snapshot

Jump statements like break, continue, and goto change normal flow.
Break exits loops immediately.
Continue skips current iteration.
Goto jumps to a labeled statement.
Use jump statements carefully to avoid confusion.

Full Transcript

This example shows how a break jump statement works in a loop. The loop runs from i=0 to i=4 normally. When i reaches 3, the if condition triggers the break statement. This causes the loop to exit immediately, so numbers 3 and 4 are not printed. The execution table tracks each iteration, showing variable i, conditions, actions, and output. The variable tracker shows how i changes each step. Key moments clarify common confusions about break behavior. The quiz tests understanding of when the loop stops and what output is produced. The snapshot summarizes jump statements and their effects on program flow.