Read this chapter, which explains while loops. This is in contrast to how a do-while loop works, which we will discuss later. In a do-while loop, the body of the loop is executed at least one time, whereas in a while loop, the loop may never execute if the loop condition is false.
12. Loop Control Variable
Answer:
The loop does not execute, even once. This is because the condition of the while statement,
count <= limit
is false the first time. The statement following the loop,
System.out.println( "Done with the loop" );
does execute.
Loop Control Variable
All the while
loops in this chapter look something like this:
int count = 0;
int limit = 5;
while ( count < limit )
{
System.out.println( "count is:" + count );
count = count + 1;
}
System.out.println( "Done with the loop" );
The variable count
is initialized, tested, and changed as the loop executes. It is an ordinary int
variable, but it is used in a special role. The role is that of a loop control variable. Not all loops have loop control variables, however.
The type of loop we have been looking at is a counting loop, since it counts upwards using the loop control variable as a counter. You can make counting loops with statements other than the while
statement, and not all while
loops are counting loops.
Question 12:
Do you think that a counting loop will always count upwards by ones?