Labeled break and continue in Javascript - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is a labeled break in JavaScript?

A labeled break lets you exit a specific outer loop or block by naming it. It stops the loop with the given label instead of just the innermost loop.

beginner

How does a labeled continue work?

A labeled continue skips the current iteration of the labeled loop and moves to the next iteration of that loop, even if it is an outer loop.

beginner

Syntax example: How do you write a labeled break in JavaScript?

You write a label followed by a colon before the loop, then use break labelName; inside the loop to break out of it.

intermediate

Why use labeled break or continue instead of normal break or continue?

They help control outer loops directly from inner loops, making it easier to stop or skip iterations in nested loops without extra flags or complicated logic.

intermediate

Can you use labeled break or continue with any block, or only loops?

Labeled break can be used with any block, but labeled continue only works with loops.

What does a labeled break do in JavaScript?

A Exits the labeled loop or block immediately

B Skips the current iteration of the labeled loop

C Restarts the labeled loop from the beginning

D Pauses the labeled loop temporarily

A labeled break immediately exits the loop or block with the given label.

Which statement is true about labeled continue?

A It only works with if statements

B It exits the labeled loop completely

C It restarts the entire program

D It skips the current iteration of the labeled loop

Labeled continue skips the current iteration of the labeled loop and moves to the next iteration.

How do you define a label in JavaScript?

A labelName -> statement

B labelName: followed by a statement or loop

C labelName() { }

D labelName = statement

Labels are defined by writing the label name followed by a colon before a statement or loop.

Can labeled continue be used outside loops?

A No, only inside loops

B Yes, anywhere

C Only inside functions

D Only inside if statements

Labeled continue only works with loops, not with other blocks.

Why might you use labeled break in nested loops?

A To restart the inner loop

B To skip one iteration of the inner loop

C To exit an outer loop directly from an inner loop

D To pause the outer loop

Labeled break lets you exit an outer loop directly from inside an inner loop.

Explain how labeled break and continue work in JavaScript and when you might use them.

Think about controlling outer loops from inner loops.

Write a simple example using a labeled break to exit an outer loop from inside an inner loop.

Use a label before the outer loop and break with that label inside the inner loop.

Practice

1.

What does the break label; statement do in JavaScript?

easy

A. It exits the loop identified by the label immediately.

B. It skips the current iteration of the inner loop only.

C. It restarts the entire program from the beginning.

D. It pauses the loop until a condition is met.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand labeled break

   The break label; statement exits the loop that has the specified label, not just the innermost loop.

2. Step 2: Compare with normal break

   Normal break exits only the current loop, but labeled break exits the labeled outer loop immediately.

3. Final Answer:

   It exits the loop identified by the label immediately. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   break label exits labeled loop [OK]

Hint: Labeled break exits the named loop, not just inner loop [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking break label only skips current iteration
• Confusing break label with continue label
• Assuming break label pauses the loop

2.

Which of the following is the correct syntax to continue the outer loop labeled outerLoop?

outerLoop: for(let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
  for(let j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
    // What goes here?
  }
}

easy

A. continue outerLoop;

B. continue (outerLoop);

C. continue: outerLoop;

D. continue to outerLoop;

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall labeled continue syntax

   The correct syntax to continue a labeled loop is continue labelName; without parentheses or extra words.

2. Step 2: Match options with syntax

   continue outerLoop; matches the correct syntax exactly. Options B, C, and D are invalid syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   continue outerLoop; -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   continue labelName; is correct syntax [OK]

Hint: Use 'continue label;' exactly, no parentheses or colons [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding parentheses around label
• Using colon after continue
• Writing extra words like 'to'

3.

What is the output of the following code?

outer: for(let i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
  for(let j = 1; j <= 3; j++) {
    if(j === 2) continue outer;
    console.log(i, j);
  }
}

medium

A. 1 1
1 3
2 1
3 1

B. 1 1
2 1
3 1

C. 1 1
1 3
2 1
2 3
3 1
3 3

D. 1 1
2 2
3 3

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand continue outer;

   When j === 2, continue outer; skips to the next iteration of the outer loop, skipping the rest of inner loop and console.log for that i.

2. Step 2: Trace iterations

   For i=1: j=1 logs '1 1', j=2 triggers continue outer (skip to i=2). For i=2: j=1 logs '2 1', j=2 triggers continue outer (skip to i=3). For i=3: j=1 logs '3 1', j=2 triggers continue outer (loop ends after i=3).

3. Final Answer:

   1 1 2 1 3 1 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   continue outer skips inner loop rest [OK]

Hint: continue label skips to next outer loop iteration [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking continue outer skips only inner iteration
• Expecting all inner loop logs
• Confusing break and continue effects

4.

Find the error in this code snippet:

outerLoop: for(let i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
  for(let j = 0; j < 2; j++) {
    if(i === j) break;
    if(j === 1) continue outerLoop;
    console.log(i, j);
  }
}

medium

A. The label name is missing a colon.

B. Using continue outerLoop; inside inner loop is invalid.

C. The break; statement breaks only inner loop, not labeled loop.

D. No error; code runs correctly.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze break statement

   The break; without label breaks only the innermost loop, not the labeled outer loop.

2. Step 2: Check labeled continue usage

   The continue outerLoop; is valid and skips to next iteration of the labeled loop.

3. Final Answer:

   The break; statement breaks only inner loop, not labeled loop. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   break without label affects inner loop only [OK]

Hint: break without label breaks inner loop only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming break breaks labeled loop without label
• Thinking continue outerLoop is invalid
• Confusing label syntax

5.

Given the nested loops below, how can you skip all remaining iterations of the outer loop when j === 3?

outerLoop: for(let i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
  for(let j = 1; j <= 5; j++) {
    if(j === 3) {
      // What statement here?
    }
    console.log(i, j);
  }
}

hard

A. continue outerLoop;

B. break;

C. continue;

D. break outerLoop;

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the goal

   We want to stop all remaining iterations of the outer loop when j === 3, meaning exit the outer loop completely.

2. Step 2: Choose correct statement

   break outerLoop; exits the labeled outer loop immediately. Plain break; exits only inner loop. continue; and continue outerLoop; skip iterations but do not exit the outer loop.

3. Final Answer:

   break outerLoop; -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   break label exits labeled loop [OK]

Hint: Use break label to exit outer loop immediately [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using break without label to exit outer loop
• Using continue instead of break
• Confusing continue label with break label