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W3Schools
w3schools.com › java › java_while_loop.asp
Java While Loop
Loops can execute a block of code as long as a specified condition is true. Loops are handy because they save time, reduce errors, and they make code more readable. The while loop repeats a block of code as long as the specified condition is true:
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GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › java › java-while-loop-with-examples
Java while Loop - GeeksforGeeks
Java while loop is a control flow statement used to execute the block of statements repeatedly until the given condition evaluates to false. Once the condition becomes false, the line immediately after the loop in the program is executed.
Published   2 weeks ago
Discussions

Java: When to use a While Loop?
Imagine you have a collection of 1,000,000 songs. You want to search for one song specifically, and return that song (or, if the song doesn't exist in the collection, tell you it wasn't found). A for or for-each loop could accomplish that, but it's going to loop 1,000,000 times even if the song is the very first record checked, which is a huge waste of time and power. If you write a while loop and then have it stop when a matching record is found, it runs exactly as much as is necessary and no more. Another example -- imagine a simple text-based console app that reads input from a user and then prints it out on the screen, but then closes when they type "quit". If you put the steps of your program - asking the user for input, assigning it to a variable, and then printing it out - in a for/for-each loop, how do you know how many times to run it? A while loop that stops running when the user types "quit" lets the user flexibly quit whenever they want, whether on 0 entries or 200. There's a lot of other applications but hopefully these are useful to conceptualize at least. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/learnprogramming
19
13
March 29, 2016
How do I exit a while loop in Java? - Stack Overflow
Finding a while...do construct with while(true) in my code would make my eyes bleed. Use a standard while loop instead: ... And take a look at the link Yacoby provided in his answer, and this one too. Seriously. ... Take a look at the Java™ Tutorials by Oracle. More on stackoverflow.com
🌐 stackoverflow.com
Why don’t we see more use of the “do...while” loop?

do while is primarily used when you want to go through one iteration of the loop body. while do implies you might not execute the body at all. I wouldn't pick one over the other based on perceived efficiency. I would base it primarily on whether you know you'll do one iteration or not.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/learnprogramming
31
5
August 1, 2018
Do while loop
The problem is not from your loops. The problem is how you combine .nextInt() and .nextLine(). See The Scanner class and its caveats from the r/javahelp wiki More on reddit.com
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12
2
April 1, 2022
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DataCamp
datacamp.com › doc › java › java-while-loop
Java While Loop
Java keywordsIntroduction To JavaJava File HandlingJava Language BasicsJava ArraysJava Object-Oriented Programming ... The while loop in Java is a control flow statement that allows code to be executed repeatedly based on a given boolean condition. The loop continues to execute as long as the ...
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Oracle
docs.oracle.com › javase › tutorial › java › nutsandbolts › while.html
The while and do-while Statements (The Java™ Tutorials > Learning the Java Language > Language Basics)
The difference between do-while and while is that do-while evaluates its expression at the bottom of the loop instead of the top. Therefore, the statements within the do block are always executed at least once, as shown in the following DoWhileDemo program:
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Tutorialspoint
tutorialspoint.com › java › java_while_loop.htm
Java - while Loop
Java while loop statement repeatedly executes a code block as long as a given condition is true. The while loop is an entry control loop, where conditions are checked before executing the loop's body.
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Programiz
programiz.com › java-programming › do-while-loop
Java while and do...while Loop
Java while loop is used to run a specific code until a certain condition is met. The syntax of the while loop is: ... A while loop evaluates the textExpression inside the parenthesis ().
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GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › java › loops-in-java
Java Loops - GeeksforGeeks
Once the condition is evaluated to true, the statements in the loop body are executed. Normally the statements contain an update value for the variable being processed for the next iteration. When the condition becomes false, the loop terminates which marks the end of its life cycle. The do-while loop ensures that the code block executes at least once before checking the condition. Example: The below Java program demonstrates a do-while loop that prints numbers from 0 to 10 in a single line.
Published   August 10, 2025
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IONOS
ionos.com › digital guide › websites › web development › while-loop java
How to use the while-loop in Java - IONOS
September 26, 2022 - The while-loop provides Java users with the ability to execute any number of state­ments as long as a pre­vi­ous­ly defined condition is true. A count variable is not required, so the ter­mi­na­tion condition can also be defined sep­a­rate­ly. The ter­mi­na­tion condition works after the Boolean. This means that the while-loop in Java executes the stored state­ments as long as the condition specified in the header is true.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnprogramming › java: when to use a while loop?
r/learnprogramming on Reddit: Java: When to use a While Loop?
March 29, 2016 -

My Intro to programming class has covered how to use both for and while loops. As for the code I am good to go with it but I am having a little trouble understanding them.

When would I use a while loop? Why would that be the better choice for the loop over a for loop?

Though I know how to code them I do not quite have a full comprehension on determining which to use and why one would be better than the other.

Any examples and/or like laymen's break down would be much appreciated!

Top answer
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Imagine you have a collection of 1,000,000 songs. You want to search for one song specifically, and return that song (or, if the song doesn't exist in the collection, tell you it wasn't found). A for or for-each loop could accomplish that, but it's going to loop 1,000,000 times even if the song is the very first record checked, which is a huge waste of time and power. If you write a while loop and then have it stop when a matching record is found, it runs exactly as much as is necessary and no more. Another example -- imagine a simple text-based console app that reads input from a user and then prints it out on the screen, but then closes when they type "quit". If you put the steps of your program - asking the user for input, assigning it to a variable, and then printing it out - in a for/for-each loop, how do you know how many times to run it? A while loop that stops running when the user types "quit" lets the user flexibly quit whenever they want, whether on 0 entries or 200. There's a lot of other applications but hopefully these are useful to conceptualize at least.
2 of 5
10
There's actually 4 types of loops in Java. A normal for loop (for(int i = 0; etc), a while loop, a do-while loop and a for-each (or enhanced for loop). Examples: For loop: for(int i = 0;i < someNumber;i++) { //Do something } While loop: while(expression) { //Do something } Do-while: do { //Do something } while(expression); Enhanced for: for(Element e : collectionOfElements) { //Do something with E. } In essence they all do the exact same thing: repeat the inner block based on a condition. When and how the condition is checked differs between them and you use each depending on what you need to do. A very rough guideline is: For: when you know beforehand you have to do something N number of times For-each: when you need to iterate over a collection, iterable or array While: when you need to loop an unknown number of times and need to check the condition to continue before the code block. Do-while: when you need to loop an unknown number of times and need to check the condition after the code block. Also keep in mind that break (break out of the loop) and continue (skip the rest of the code and go directly to the next iteration) are all control statements that work for all loops. So it's very possible to use a while as a for loop or vice versa.
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W3Schools
w3schools.com › java › java_while_loop_do.asp
Java Do/While Loop
Java Examples Java Videos Java Compiler Java Exercises Java Quiz Java Code Challenges Java Server Java Syllabus Java Study Plan Java Interview Q&A Java Certificate ... The do/while loop is a variant of the while loop. This loop will execute ...
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BeginnersBook
beginnersbook.com › 2015 › 03 › while-loop-in-java-with-examples
While loop in Java with examples
Fourth iteration: value of i is 3, fourth element of the array represented by arr[3] is printed. After fourth iteration: value of i is 4, the condition i<4 returns false so the loop ends and the code inside body of while loop doesn’t execute. Practice the following java programs related to while loop:
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ScholarHat
scholarhat.com › home
Loops in java - For, While, Do-While Loop in Java
An infinite while loop in Java happens when the condition in your while loop is always true. For example, using while(true) creates an endless loop. You can stop it with a break statement or by fixing the condition.
Published   August 30, 2025
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DataCamp
datacamp.com › doc › java › while
while Keyword in Java: Usage & Examples
The while keyword in Java is used to create a loop that executes a block of code as long as a specified condition is true.
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Study.com
study.com › programming languages › compiled languages › java (programming language) › java control structures
While Loops in Java: Example & Syntax - Lesson | Study.com
October 26, 2025 - This lesson has provided the syntax for the Java while statement, including some code examples. A while loop will execute commands as long as a certain condition is true. If you do not know when the condition will be true, this type of loop ...
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Tutorialspoint
tutorialspoint.com › java › java_do_while_loop.htm
Java - do...while Loop
In this example, we're showing the use of a while loop to print numbers starting from 10 to 19. Here we've initialized an int variable x with a value of 10. Then in do while loop, we're checking x as less than 20 after do while loop body.In do while loop body we're printing the value of x and incrementing the value of x by 1.
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Jenkov
jenkov.com › tutorials › java › while.html
Java while Loops
May 9, 2024 - Inside the while loop body a random number between 0 and 10 is generated. If the random number is larger than 5, then the shouldContinue variable will be set to true. If the random number is 5 or less, the shouldContinue variable will be set to false. Like with for loops, the curly braces are optional around the while loop body. If you omit the curly braces then the while loop body will consist of only the first following Java statement.
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ScholarHat
scholarhat.com › home
do...while Loop in Java - Flowchart & Syntax (With Examples)
September 6, 2025 - Read More: Top 50 Java Interview Questions and Answers · The do...while loop in Java is also known as Exit Control Loop. It is used byJava Developerswhen they want a block of code to be executed at least once before checking the condition.
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ScholarHat
scholarhat.com › home
Understanding while loop in java (With Syntax and Example)
September 6, 2025 - Ternary Operator in Java with Examples: Ternary Operator vs. if...else Statement ... while loop in Java is a control flow statement that repeatedly executes a block of code as long as a specified Boolean condition is true.
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DigitalOcean
digitalocean.com › community › tutorials › java-do-while-loop
Java do while loop | DigitalOcean
August 3, 2022 - Java do-while loop is used to execute a block of statements continuously until the given condition is true. The do-while loop in Java is similar to while loop except that the condition is checked after the statements are executed, so do while loop guarantees the loop execution at least once.