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

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of nested loops with continue 2

What is the output of this PHP code snippet?

PHP

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

A 11 12 13 21 22 23 31 32 33

B 11 13 12 13 21 23 31 33

C 11 13 21 22 23 31 32 33

D 11 21 31

💡 Hint

Remember that continue 2 skips the rest of the current inner and outer loop iteration.

The continue 2 statement skips the rest of the inner loop and also the current iteration of the outer loop. So when j == 2, it skips to the next i value, not printing anything for j == 2.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Effect of continue 1 in nested loops

What will this PHP code output?

PHP

<?php
for ($x = 1; $x <= 2; $x++) {
    for ($y = 1; $y <= 3; $y++) {
        if ($y == 2) {
            continue 1;
        }
        echo "$x$y ";
    }
}
?>

A 11 21 31 12 22 32

B 11 13 12 13 21 23

C 11 13 21 23

D 11 12 13 21 22 23

💡 Hint

continue 1 affects only the current loop level.

continue 1 skips the current iteration of the inner loop only, so when y == 2, it skips printing and continues inner loop with next y.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Identify the error in continue statement usage

What error will this PHP code produce?

PHP

<?php
for ($a = 0; $a < 3; $a++) {
    $b = 0;
    while ($b < 3) {
        if ($b == 1) {
            continue 3;
        }
        echo "$a$b ";
        $b++;
    }
}
?>

A Outputs '001 002 101 102 201 202 '

B Fatal error: 'continue' not in the correct loop level

C No output, infinite loop

D Syntax error: unexpected 'continue'

💡 Hint

Check how many nested loops are present and the level used in continue.

continue 3 tries to skip 3 loop levels but only 2 loops exist, causing a fatal error.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Output with continue 2 inside foreach and for loops

What is the output of this PHP code?

PHP

<?php
$items = ['a', 'b', 'c'];
for ($i = 0; $i < 2; $i++) {
    foreach ($items as $item) {
        if ($item === 'b') {
            continue 2;
        }
        echo "$i$item ";
    }
}
?>

A 0a 1a

B 0a 0c 1a 1c

C 0a 0c 1a

D 0a 1a 1c

💡 Hint

continue 2 skips the current iteration of the outer loop.

When item is 'b', continue 2 skips the rest of foreach and also the current for iteration, so 'c' is never printed for that i.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Understanding continue with levels in complex nested loops

Consider this PHP code with three nested loops. Which statement about the effect of continue 2; inside the innermost loop is true?

PHP

<?php
for ($x = 1; $x <= 2; $x++) {
    foreach ([10, 20] as $y) {
        $z = 0;
        while ($z < 3) {
            if ($z == 1) {
                continue 2;
            }
            echo "$x$y$z ";
            $z++;
        }
    }
}
?>

A continue 2 skips the rest of the while loop and the current foreach iteration, moving to next foreach value

B continue 2 skips only the current while iteration, continuing the while loop

C continue 2 skips the entire for loop iteration, moving to next x

D continue 2 causes a syntax error because it is inside a while loop

💡 Hint

Remember that continue with a number skips that many nested loops.

continue 2 skips the current and next outer loop. Here, inside while, continue 2 skips while and foreach iteration, moving to next foreach value.