Break statement with levels in PHP - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Break statement with levels

Start Outer Loop i=1

↓

Start Inner Loop j=1

↓

Check Condition

Yes↓

Break with level 2

↓

Exit Inner and Outer Loops

↓

Continue after loops

The break statement with a level exits multiple nested loops at once, skipping remaining iterations.

Execution Sample

PHP

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

This code prints pairs of i and j until j equals 2, then breaks out of both loops.

Execution Table

Step	i	j	Condition (j==2)	Action	Output
1	1	1	False	Print '1,1'	1,1
2	1	2	True	Break 2 levels (exit both loops)
3	-	-	-	Loops exited

💡 Break 2 levels triggered at j=2, exiting both inner and outer loops.

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After 1	After 2	Final
i	1	1	-	-
j	1	2	-	-

Key Moments - 2 Insights

Why does the break statement exit both loops instead of just the inner one?

Because the break uses a level of 2, it tells PHP to exit two nested loops at once, as shown in execution_table step 2.

What happens to the variables after the break 2 statement?

Both loops stop immediately, so variables i and j do not update further, as seen in variable_tracker final values.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, what is the output at step 1?

A "1,1"

B "1,2"

C No output

D "2,1"

💡 Hint

Check the Output column in execution_table row 1.

At which step does the break 2 statement cause the loops to exit?

A Step 1

B Step 2

C Step 3

D Never

💡 Hint

Look at the Action column in execution_table row 2.

If the break statement was just 'break;' without a level, what would happen?

A Only the inner loop would exit

B Both loops would exit

C No loops would exit

D The program would error

💡 Hint

Recall that break without a level exits only the current loop.

Concept Snapshot

break n;
- Exits n nested loops immediately.
- Default n=1 exits only current loop.
- Useful to stop multiple loops at once.
- Syntax: break 2; exits two loops.
- Stops further iterations after break.

Full Transcript

This example shows how the break statement with a level works in PHP. The code has two loops: outer loop with variable i and inner loop with variable j. When j equals 2, the break 2 statement runs. This causes both the inner and outer loops to stop immediately. The execution table shows step by step: first printing '1,1', then at j=2 breaking out of both loops. The variable tracker shows i and j values before the break. Key moments clarify why break 2 exits both loops and what happens to variables. The quiz tests understanding of output, break timing, and difference from break without level. The snapshot summarizes the syntax and behavior of break with levels.