JavaScript continue

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Examples

Loop through a block of code, but skip the value of 3:

let text = "";
for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
if (i === 3) continue;
text += i + " ";
}

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let text = "";
let i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
i++;
if (i === 3) continue;
text += i + " ";
}

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More examples below.

Definition and Usage

The continue statement breaks one iteration (in the loop) if a specified condition occurs, and continues with the next iteration in the loop.

The difference between continue and the break statement, is instead of "jumping out" of a loop, the continue statement "jumps over" one iteration in the loop.

However, when the continue statement is executed, it behaves differently for different types of loops:

In a while loop, the condition is tested, and if it is true, the loop is executed again
In a for loop, the increment expression (e.g. i++) is first evaluated, and then the condition is tested to find out if another iteration should be done

The continue statement can also be used with an optional label reference.

Note: The continue statement (with or without a label reference) can only be used inside a loop.

Syntax

continue;

Using the optional label reference:

continue labelname;

More Examples

Skip the numbers 2 and 3 (using the OR operator):

let text = "";
for (let i = 1; i < 8; i++) {
if (i === 2 || i === 3) continue;
text += i + "" ";
}

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Loop over an array, but skip "Saab":

const cars = ["BMW", "Volvo", "Saab", "Ford"];
let text = "";
for (let = 0; i < cars.length; i++) {
if (cars[i] === "Saab") {
 continue;
 }
 text += cars[i] + " ";
}

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Example

With a label reference, skip a value in a nested loop:

let text = "";

// The first for loop is labeled Loop1:
Loop1:
for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
 text += i + " ";

// The second for loop is labeled Loop2:
Loop2:
 for (let i = 10; i < 15; i++) {
 if (i === 12) continue Loop2;
 text += i + " ";
 }
}

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JavaScript Tutorial: JavaScript Break and Continue

JavaScript Tutorial: JavaScript For Loop

JavaScript Tutorial: JavaScript While Loop

JavaScript Tutorial: JavaScript break Statement

JavaScript Reference: JavaScript for Statement

JavaScript Reference: JavaScript while Statement