PHP continue Keyword: Skip Current Loop And Execute The Next Loop

The continue keyword in PHP is used within looping structures to skip the rest of the current loop iteration and continue execution at the start of the next iteration.

Let's look at how the continue statement works in PHP through several examples:

continue in a for loop:

for($i = 0; $i < 10; $i++) {
    if($i == 5) {
        continue; // skips the rest of the code in this loop iteration
    }
    echo $i . "<br>"; // this line will not execute when $i is 5
}

In this example, numbers from 0 to 9 will be printed, except for 5. When $i equals 5, the continue statement is executed, skipping the rest of the loop's code and starting the next iteration.

continue in a while loop:

$j = 0;
while($j < 10) {
    $j++;
    if($j == 5) {
        continue; // skips the rest of the code in this loop iteration
    }
    echo $j . "<br>"; // this line will not execute when $j is 5
}

Similar to the previous example, this while loop will print numbers from 1 to 10, except for 5. When $j equals 5, the continue statement is executed, and the next loop iteration begins.

continue in a foreach loop:

$numbers = array(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10);

foreach($numbers as $number) {
    if($number == 5) {
        continue; // skips the rest of the code in this loop iteration
    }
    echo $number . "<br>"; // this line will not execute when $number is 5
}

In this example, the foreach loop goes through an array of numbers from 1 to 10. When the current $number is 5, the continue statement is encountered, skipping the echo statement and starting the next loop iteration.

The continue statement can also take a numerical argument to specify the number of levels of enclosing loops it should skip to the end of. continue 2; would skip to the end of the second enclosing loop, for example. However, this use is less common and can make code harder to understand, so use it with caution.

Remember, the continue statement is beneficial when you want to skip the rest of the current loop without terminating it completely. It's a handy tool for controlling the flow of your loops in PHP.

How to Use continue in PHP Loops:

The continue keyword is used to skip the rest of the current iteration and move to the next iteration of a loop.

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 5; $i++) {
    if ($i == 3) {
        continue; // Skip iteration when $i is 3
    }
    echo $i . " ";
}
// Output: 1 2 4 5
?>

Skip Current Iteration and Move to the Next Loop in PHP:

continue is useful when you want to skip the current iteration and move to the next loop.

<?php
$numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

foreach ($numbers as $number) {
    if ($number % 2 == 0) {
        continue; // Skip even numbers
    }
    echo $number . " ";
}
// Output: 1 3 5
?>

PHP continue Statement in For Loop:

The continue statement works similarly in a for loop as it does in other loops.

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 5; $i++) {
    if ($i == 2 || $i == 4) {
        continue; // Skip iterations when $i is 2 or 4
    }
    echo $i . " ";
}
// Output: 1 3 5
?>

Using continue with While and Do-While Loops in PHP:

continue can be used with both while and do-while loops.

<?php
$i = 0;
while ($i < 5) {
    $i++;
    if ($i == 3) {
        continue; // Skip iteration when $i is 3
    }
    echo $i . " ";
}
// Output: 1 2 4 5
?>

PHP continue vs break: Differences and Use Cases:

continue skips the current iteration and moves to the next, while break exits the loop entirely.

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 5; $i++) {
    if ($i == 3) {
        continue; // Skip iteration when $i is 3
    }
    if ($i == 4) {
        break; // Exit the loop when $i is 4
    }
    echo $i . " ";
}
// Output: 1 2
?>

Continue in Nested Loops in PHP:

continue can be used in nested loops to skip the current iteration in the inner loop.

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 3; $i++) {
    for ($j = 1; $j <= 3; $j++) {
        if ($j == 2) {
            continue; // Skip inner loop iteration when $j is 2
        }
        echo "$i-$j ";
    }
}
// Output: 1-1 1-3 2-1 2-3 3-1 3-3
?>

PHP continue Statement with Labeled Loops:

Labeled loops allow you to specify which loop to continue in a nested loop scenario.

<?php
outerLoop:
for ($i = 1; $i <= 3; $i++) {
    for ($j = 1; $j <= 3; $j++) {
        if ($j == 2) {
            continue outerLoop; // Skip to the next iteration of outer loop
        }
        echo "$i-$j ";
    }
}
// Output: 1-1 2-1 3-1
?>

Continue Inside Switch-Case Statements in PHP:

continue can be used inside a switch-case statement to skip the rest of the current case and move to the next case.

<?php
$value = 2;

switch ($value) {
    case 1:
        echo "Case 1";
        break;
    case 2:
        echo "Case 2 ";
        continue;
    case 3:
        echo "Case 3";
        break;
}
// Output: Case 2
?>

PHP continue with Foreach Loop:

continue works similarly in foreach loops, skipping the rest of the current iteration.

<?php
$colors = ["red", "green", "blue"];

foreach ($colors as $color) {
    if ($color == "green") {
        continue; // Skip iteration when color is green
    }
    echo $color . " ";
}
// Output: red blue
?>

Handling Loop Conditions with continue in PHP:

Use continue to handle specific conditions within a loop.

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 5; $i++) {
    if ($i % 2 == 0) {
        continue; // Skip even numbers
    }
    echo $i . " ";
}
// Output: 1 3 5
?>

PHP continue Statement and Loop Control Flow:

continue affects the control flow of loops, allowing you to skip the current iteration and move to the next one.

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 5; $i++) {
    if ($i == 3) {
        continue; // Skip iteration when $i is 3
    }
    echo $i . " ";
}
// Output: 1 2 4 5
?>