Break statement with levels in PHP - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of nested loops with break 2

What is the output of this PHP code using break 2 inside nested loops?

PHP

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 3; $i++) {
    for ($j = 1; $j <= 3; $j++) {
        if ($j == 2) {
            break 2;
        }
        echo "$i$j ";
    }
}
?>

A 11

B 11 12 13 21 22 23 31 32 33

C 11 12

D 12

💡 Hint

Remember that break 2 exits two levels of loops immediately.

The break 2 statement exits both the inner and outer loops as soon as $j == 2. So only the first iteration 11 is printed before breaking out.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Effect of break 1 in nested loops

What will be the output of this PHP code using break 1 inside nested loops?

PHP

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 2; $i++) {
    for ($j = 1; $j <= 3; $j++) {
        if ($j == 2) {
            break 1;
        }
        echo "$i$j ";
    }
}
?>

A 11 12 21 22

B 11 21

C 11 12 13 21 22 23

D 11 21 22

💡 Hint

break 1 only exits the innermost loop.

The break 1 exits only the inner loop when $j == 2. So for each outer loop iteration, only $j == 1 prints. Output is '11 21 '.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify error with break level

What error will this PHP code produce when using break 3 inside two nested loops?

PHP

<?php
for ($i = 0; $i < 2; $i++) {
    for ($j = 0; $j < 2; $j++) {
        if ($j == 1) {
            break 3;
        }
        echo "$i$j ";
    }
}
?>

A Fatal error: Cannot break 3 levels

B No output, loops run fully

C Output: 0001

D Syntax error: unexpected break

💡 Hint

Check how many nested loops exist and the break level used.

The code tries to break 3 levels but only 2 loops exist. PHP throws a fatal error: 'Cannot break 3 levels'.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Output with break in switch inside loops

What is the output of this PHP code with break 2 inside a switch within nested loops?

PHP

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 3; $i++) {
    for ($j = 1; $j <= 3; $j++) {
        switch ($j) {
            case 2:
                break 2;
            default:
                echo "$i$j ";
        }
    }
}
?>

A 11 13 21 23 31 33

B 11 12 13 21 22 23 31 32 33

C 11

D 12

💡 Hint

Remember break 2 exits two control structures, here loops and switch.

The break 2 inside the switch exits both the switch and the outer for loop. So only '11 ' prints before exiting all loops.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Understanding break levels in complex nested structures

Consider this PHP code with three nested loops and a break 2 inside the innermost loop. After the break executes, which loops continue running?

PHP

<?php
for ($a = 1; $a <= 2; $a++) {
    for ($b = 1; $b <= 2; $b++) {
        for ($c = 1; $c <= 2; $c++) {
            if ($c == 2) {
                break 2;
            }
            echo "$a$b$c ";
        }
    }
}
?>

A Only the outermost loop continues; the two inner loops break

B Only the innermost loop breaks; middle and outer loops continue

C All three loops break and stop running

D The innermost and middle loops break; outer loop continues

💡 Hint

Break level counts how many nested loops to exit starting from innermost.

break 2 exits the innermost and the middle loops. The outermost loop continues its next iteration.