Break and continue behavior in Kotlin - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the break statement do in a Kotlin loop?

The break statement immediately stops the entire loop and exits it, continuing with the code after the loop.

beginner

What is the effect of the continue statement inside a Kotlin loop?

The continue statement skips the rest of the current loop iteration and moves to the next iteration of the loop.

intermediate

In Kotlin, what happens if break is used inside nested loops?

The break statement only exits the innermost loop where it is called, not all outer loops.

beginner

How can you use continue to skip even numbers in a Kotlin for loop?

Inside the loop, check if the number is even. If yes, use continue to skip the rest of the loop body and move to the next number.

beginner

Can break and continue be used outside loops in Kotlin?

No, both break and continue can only be used inside loops like for, while, or do-while.

What does the break statement do in a Kotlin loop?

A Does nothing

B Skips the current iteration and continues

C Restarts the loop from the beginning

D Stops the entire loop immediately

break stops the whole loop and moves on to the code after the loop.

What happens when continue is executed inside a Kotlin loop?

A Exits the loop completely

B Skips the rest of the current iteration and goes to the next

C Pauses the loop

D Repeats the current iteration

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

If break is used inside nested loops, which loop does it exit?

A The innermost loop where <code>break</code> is called

B All loops

C The outermost loop

D None

break exits only the innermost loop it is inside.

Can continue be used outside of loops in Kotlin?

A Yes, anywhere

B Only inside functions

C No, only inside loops

D Only inside if statements

continue works only inside loops like for or while.

Which statement correctly skips even numbers in a Kotlin for loop?

A if (number % 2 == 0) continue

B if (number % 2 != 0) continue

C if (number % 2 == 0) break

D if (number % 2 != 0) break

Using continue when the number is even skips that iteration.

Explain how break and continue change the flow inside a Kotlin loop.

Think about what happens when you want to stop or skip parts of a repeated task.

Describe a real-life example where you might use break and another where you might use continue in a loop.

Imagine looking for something or skipping certain steps.

Practice

1. What does the break statement do inside a Kotlin loop?

easy

A. Stops the entire loop immediately

B. Skips the current iteration and continues the loop

C. Restarts the loop from the beginning

D. Pauses the loop until a condition is met

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of break

   The break statement immediately stops the whole loop when executed.

2. Step 2: Compare with other loop controls

   Unlike continue, which skips only the current step, break ends the loop fully.

3. Final Answer:

   Stops the entire loop immediately -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   break stops loop = B [OK]

Hint: Remember: break = stop loop, continue = skip step [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing break with continue
• Thinking break skips only one iteration
• Assuming break restarts the loop

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to skip the current iteration in a Kotlin for loop?

easy

A. continue

B. break

C. skip

D. stop

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the keyword to skip iteration

   In Kotlin, continue is used to skip the current loop iteration and move to the next.

2. Step 2: Check other options for correctness

   break stops the loop, skip and stop are not valid Kotlin keywords.

3. Final Answer:

   continue -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Skip iteration = continue [OK]

Hint: Use continue to skip steps inside loops [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using break instead of continue
• Using non-existent keywords like skip or stop
• Confusing syntax with other languages

3. What will be the output of this Kotlin code?

for (i in 1..5) {
    if (i == 3) break
    print(i)
}

medium

A. Error

B. 12345

C. 345

D. 12

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the loop and break condition

   The loop runs from 1 to 5. When i equals 3, break stops the loop immediately.

2. Step 2: Determine printed values before break

   Values 1 and 2 are printed before hitting i == 3, then loop stops.

3. Final Answer:

   12 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Loop stops at 3, prints 1 and 2 [OK]

Hint: Break stops loop before printing 3 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming 3 is printed before break
• Thinking loop continues after break
• Confusing break with continue

4. Find the error in this Kotlin code snippet:

for (i in 1..5) {
    if (i == 3) continue
    if (i == 6) break
    print(i)
}

medium

A. The loop will run infinitely

B. continue cannot be used inside for loops

C. The break condition is unreachable

D. Syntax error in if statements

Solution

1. Step 1: Check loop range and conditions

   The loop runs from 1 to 5, so i == 6 never happens.

2. Step 2: Analyze break condition reachability

   Since i never reaches 6, the break statement is never executed, making it unreachable code.

3. Final Answer:

   The break condition is unreachable -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Break at i=6 unreachable in 1..5 loop [OK]

Hint: Check loop range matches break condition [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming break will run at i=6
• Thinking continue is invalid in loops
• Believing loop runs infinitely

5. Consider this Kotlin code:

var sum = 0
for (i in 1..10) {
    if (i % 2 == 0) continue
    if (sum > 10) break
    sum += i
}
print(sum)

What is the output?

hard

A. 25

B. 11

C. 9

D. 16

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand loop behavior with continue and break

   The loop adds only odd numbers (because even numbers are skipped by continue). It stops when sum > 10.

2. Step 2: Calculate sum step-by-step

   Odd numbers: 1,3,5,7,9
   i=1: sum=0 <=10, sum=1
   i=3: sum=1 <=10, sum=4
   i=5: sum=4 <=10, sum=9
   i=7: sum=9 <=10, sum=16
   i=9: sum=16 >10, break (no add 9).

3. Final Answer:

   11 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Sum odd numbers until sum > 10 = 11 [OK]

Hint: Add odds, stop when sum exceeds 10 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding even numbers mistakenly
• Breaking before sum exceeds 10
• Miscounting sum steps