Java Programming

Fifth Edition

Chapter 6
Looping
 Objectives

• Learn about the loop structure

• Use a while loop
• Use shortcut arithmetic operators
• Use a for loop
• Learn how and when to use a do...while loop

Java Programming, Fifth Edition 2

 Objectives (continued)

• Learn about nested loops

• Understand how to improve loop performance

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 Learning About the Loop Structure

• Loop
– Structure that allows repeated execution of a block
of statements
• Loop body
– Block of statements
– Executed repeatedly

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 Learning About the Loop Structure
(continued)
• Three types of loops
– while
• Loop-controlling Boolean expression is the first
statement
– for
• A concise format in which to execute loops
– do...while
• Loop-controlling Boolean expression is the last
statement

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 Learning About the Loop Structure
(continued)

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 Using a while Loop To Create
a Definite Loop
• while loop
– Executes body of statements continually
• As long as Boolean expression that controls entry into
loop continues to be true
– Consists of keyword while
• Followed by Boolean expression within parentheses
• Followed by body of loop; can be single statement or
block of statements surrounded by curly braces

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 Using a while Loop To Create
a Definite Loop (continued)

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 Using a while Loop To Create
a Definite Loop (continued)
• Definite loop
– Performs task a predetermined number of times
– Also called a counted loop
• Write a definite loop
– Initialize loop control variable
• Variable whose value determines whether loop
execution continues
– While loop control variable does not pass limiting
value
• Program continues to execute body of while loop

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 Using a while Loop To Create
a Definite Loop (continued)
• Write a definite loop (continued)
– Body of loop
• Must include statement that alters loop control
variable
• Infinite loop
– Loop that never ends
– Can result from mistake in while loop
– Do not write intentionally

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 Using a while Loop To Create
a Definite Loop (continued)

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 Using a while Loop To Create
a Definite Loop (continued)
• Suspect infinite loop
– Same output displayed repeatedly
– Screen remains idle for extended period of time
• Exit from infinite loop
– Press and hold Ctrl
• Press C or Break

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 Using a while Loop To Create
a Definite Loop (continued)
• Prevent while loop from executing infinitely
– Named loop control variable initialized to starting
value
– Loop control variable tested in while statement
– If test expression true
• Body of while statement takes action
– Alters value of loop control variable
• Test of while statement must eventually evaluate to
false

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 Using a while Loop To Create
a Definite Loop (continued)

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 Using a while Loop To Create
a Definite Loop (continued)
• Loop control variable
– Variable altered and stored with new value
loopCount = loopCount + 1
• Equal sign assigns value to variable on left
– Variable should be altered within body of loop
• Empty body
– Body with no statements
– Caused by misplaced semicolons

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 Using a while Loop To Create
a Definite Loop (continued)
• Increment variable
– Alter value of loop control variable by adding 1
• Decrement variable
– Subtract 1 from loop control variable
• Clearest and best method
– Start loop control variable at 0 or 1
– Stop when loop control variable reaches limit
– Increment by 1 each time through loop

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 Using a while Loop To Create
a Definite Loop (continued)

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 Using a while Loop to Create
an Indefinite Loop
• Indefinite loop
– Event controlled
• Controlled by user
• Executed any number of times
• Validating data
– Ensures value falls within specified range
– Use indefinite loops to validate input data
– If user enters incorrect data
• Loop repeats

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 Using Shortcut Arithmetic Operators

• Accumulating
– Repeatedly increasing value by some amount
• Java provides shortcuts for incrementing and
accumulating:
+= add and assign
-= subtract and assign
*= multiply and assign
/= divide and assign
%= remainder and assign

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 Using Shortcut Arithmetic Operators
(continued)
• Prefix and postfix increment operators
++someValue, someValue++
– Use only with variables
– Unary operators
• Use with one value
– Increase variable’s value by 1
• No difference between operators (unless other
operations in same expression)

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 Using Shortcut Arithmetic Operators
(continued)

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 Using Shortcut Arithmetic Operators
(continued)
• Prefix and postfix increment operators (continued)
– Prefix ++
• Result calculated and stored
• Then variable used
– Postfix ++
• Variable used
• Then result calculated and stored
• Prefix and postfix decrement operators
--someValue
someValue--
– Similar logic to increment operators

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 Using a for Loop

• for Loop
– Used when definite number of loop iterations is
required
– One convenient statement
• Assign starting value for loop control variable
• Test condition that controls loop entry
• Alter loop control variable

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 Using a for Loop (continued)

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 Using a for Loop (continued)

• Other uses for three sections of for loop

– Initialization of more than one variable
• Place commas between separate statements
– Performance of more than one test using AND or OR
operators
– Decrementation or performance of some other task
– Altering more than one value
– Can leave one or more portions of for loop empty
• Two semicolons still required as placeholders

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 Using a for Loop (continued)

• Use same loop control variable in all three parts of

for statement
• To pause program
– Use for loop that contains no body
for(x = 0; x < 100000; ++x);
– Or built-in sleep() method

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 Learning How and When to Use
a do...while Loop
• do...while loop
– Posttest loop
– Checks value of loop control variable
• At bottom of loop
• After one repetition has occurred
– Performs task at least one time
– Never required to use this type of loop
– Use curly brackets to block statement
• Even with single statement

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 Learning How and When to Use
a do...while Loop (continued)

Java Programming, Fifth Edition 30

 Learning How and When to Use
a do...while Loop (continued)

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 Learning About Nested Loops

• Inner and outer loops

– Inner loop must be entirely contained in outer loop
– Loops can never overlap
• To print three mailing labels for each of 20
customers
for(customer = 1; customer <= 20;
++customer)
for(label = 1; label <= 3; ++label)
printLabelMethod();

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 Learning About Nested Loops
(continued)

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 Improving Loop Performance

• Make sure loop does not include unnecessary

operations or statements
• Consider order of evaluation for short-circuit
operators
• Make comparisons to 0
• Employ loop fusion

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 Avoiding Unnecessary Operations

• Do not use unnecessary operations or statements:

– Within loop’s tested expression
– Within loop body
• Avoid
while (x < a + b)
// loop body
• Instead use
int sum = a + b;
while(x < sum)
// loop body
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 Considering the Order of Evaluation
for Short-Circuit Operators
• Short-circuit evaluation
– Each part of an AND or an OR expression is
evaluated only as much as necessary to determine
the value of expression
• Important to consider number of evaluations that
take place
– When loop might execute many times

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 Comparing to Zero

• Making comparison to 0
– Faster than making comparison to any other value
• Improve loop performance
– Compare loop control variable to 0
• Do-nothing loop
– Performs no actions other than looping

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 Comparing to Zero (continued)

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 Employing Loop Fusion

• Loop fusion
– Technique of combining two loops into one
– Will not work in every situation

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 You Do It

• Writing a loop to validate data entries

• Working with prefix and postfix increment operators
• Working with definite loops
• Working with nested loops

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 Don’t Do It

• Don’t insert a semicolon at the end of a while

clause
• Don’t forget to block multiple statements that
should execute in a loop
• Don’t make the mistake of checking for invalid data
using a decision instead of a loop
• Don’t ignore subtleties in the boundaries used to
stop loop performance
• Don’t repeat steps within a loop that could just as
well be placed outside the loop
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 Summary

• Loop structure allows repeated execution of block

of statements
– Infinite loop
– Definite loop
– Nest loop
• Must change loop control variable within looping
structure
• Use while loop to:
– Execute statements while some condition is true

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 Summary (continued)
• Execute while loop
– Initialize loop control variable, test in while
statement, and alter loop control variable
• Prefix ++ and postfix ++
– Increase variable’s value by 1
– Variable used
• Result calculated and stored
• Unary operators
– Use with one value

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 Summary (continued)
• Binary operators
– Operate on two values
• Shortcut operators +=, -=, *=, and /=
– Perform operations and assign result in one step
• for loop
– Initializes, tests, and increments in one statement
• do...while loop
– Tests Boolean expression after one repetition
• Improve loop performance
– Do not include unnecessary operations or
statements
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