C++ while and do...
while Loop
In computer programming, loops are used to repeat a block of code.
For example, let's say we want to show a message 100 times. Then instead of writing the print statement 100
times, we can use a loop.
That was just a simple example; we can achieve much more efficiency and sophistication in our programs by
making effective use of loops.
There are 3 types of loops in C++.
1. for loop
2. while loop
3. do...while loop
In the previous tutorial, we learned about the C++ for loop (/cpp-programming/for-loop). Here, we are going
to learn about while and do...while loops.
C++ while Loop
The syntax of the while loop is:
while (condition) {
// body of the loop
}
Here,
A while loop evaluates the condition
If the condition evaluates to true , the code inside the while loop is executed.
The condition is evaluated again.
This process continues until the condition is false .
When the condition evaluates to false , the loop terminates.
To learn more about the conditions , visit C++ Relational and Logical Operators (/cpp-
programming/relational-logical-operators).
Flowchart of while Loop
Flowchart of C++ while loop
Example 1: Display Numbers from 1 to 5
// C++ Program to print numbers from 1 to 5
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
int i = 1;
// while loop from 1 to 5
while (i <= 5) {
cout << i << " ";
++i;
}
return 0;
}
Run Code (/cpp-programming/online-compiler)
Output
1 2 3 4 5
Here is how the program works.
Iteration Variable i <= 5 Action
1st i = 1 true 1 is printed and i is increased to 2 .
2nd i = 2 true 2 is printed and i is increased to 3 .
3rd i = 3 true 3 is printed and i is increased to 4
4th i = 4 true 4 is printed and i is increased to 5 .
5th i = 5 true 5 is printed and i is increased to 6 .
6th i = 6 false The loop is terminated
Example 2: Sum of Positive Numbers Only
// program to find the sum of positive numbers
// if the user enters a negative number, the loop ends
// the negative number entered is not added to the sum
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
int number;
int sum = 0;
// take input from the user
cout << "Enter a number: ";
cin >> number;
while (number >= 0) {
// add all positive numbers
sum += number;
// take input again if the number is positive
cout << "Enter a number: ";
cin >> number;
}
// display the sum
cout << "\nThe sum is " << sum << endl;
return 0;
}
Run Code (/cpp-programming/online-compiler)
Output
Enter a number: 6
Enter a number: 12
Enter a number: 7
Enter a number: 0
Enter a number: -2
The sum is 25
In this program, the user is prompted to enter a number, which is stored in the variable number .
In order to store the sum of the numbers, we declare a variable sum and initialize it to the value of 0 .
The while loop continues until the user enters a negative number. During each iteration, the number entered
by the user is added to the sum variable.
When the user enters a negative number, the loop terminates. Finally, the total sum is displayed.
C++ do...while Loop
The do...while loop is a variant of the while loop with one important difference: the body of do...while
loop is executed once before the condition is checked.
Its syntax is:
do {
// body of loop;
}
while (condition);
Here,
The body of the loop is executed at first. Then the condition is evaluated.
If the condition evaluates to true , the body of the loop inside the do statement is executed again.
The condition is evaluated once again.
If the condition evaluates to true , the body of the loop inside the do statement is executed again.
This process continues until the condition evaluates to false . Then the loop stops.
Flowchart of do...while Loop
Flowchart of C++ do...while loop
Example 3: Display Numbers from 1 to 5
// C++ Program to print numbers from 1 to 5
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
int i = 1;
// do...while loop from 1 to 5
do {
cout << i << " ";
++i;
}
while (i <= 5);
return 0;
}
Run Code (/cpp-programming/online-compiler)
Output
1 2 3 4 5
Here is how the program works.
Iteration Variable i <= 5 Action
i = 1 not checked 1 is printed and i is increased to 2
1st i = 2 true 2 is printed and i is increased to 3
2nd i = 3 true 3 is printed and i is increased to 4
3rd i = 4 true 4 is printed and i is increased to 5
4th i = 5 true 5 is printed and i is increased to 6
5th i = 6 false The loop is terminated
Example 4: Sum of Positive Numbers Only
// program to find the sum of positive numbers
// If the user enters a negative number, the loop ends
// the negative number entered is not added to the sum
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
int number = 0;
int sum = 0;
do {
sum += number;
// take input from the user
cout << "Enter a number: ";
cin >> number;
}
while (number >= 0);
// display the sum
cout << "\nThe sum is " << sum << endl;
return 0;
}
Run Code (/cpp-programming/online-compiler)
Output 1
Enter a number: 6
Enter a number: 12
Enter a number: 7
Enter a number: 0
Enter a number: -2
The sum is 25
Here, the do...while loop continues until the user enters a negative number. When the number is negative,
the loop terminates; the negative number is not added to the sum variable.
Output 2
Enter a number: -6
The sum is 0.
The body of the do...while loop runs only once if the user enters a negative number.
Infinite while loop
If the condition of a loop is always true , the loop runs for infinite times (until the memory is full). For example,
// infinite while loop
while(true) {
// body of the loop
}
Here is an example of an infinite do...while loop.
// infinite do...while loop
int count = 1;
do {
// body of loop
}
while(count == 1);
In the above programs, the condition is always true . Hence, the loop body will run for infinite times.
for vs while loops
A for loop is usually used when the number of iterations is known. For example,
// This loop is iterated 5 times
for (int i = 1; i <=5; ++i) {
// body of the loop
}
Here, we know that the for-loop will be executed 5 times.
However, while and do...while loops are usually used when the number of iterations is unknown. For
example,
while (condition) {
// body of the loop
}
