Break in C

break immediately exits the nearest loop or switch. Execution continues with the statement after that loop or switch.

Syntax / Basic Pattern

for (…) {
if (condition) break;
}

Easy points to remember

break exits only the nearest enclosing loop/switch.
In switch, break normally stops fall-through.
Use it when continuing the loop is no longer necessary.

⭐ PRACTICE TIP: Type these programs yourself. Change the values and run them again. That is how control statements become easy.

Program 1: Stop at 5

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){for(int i=1;i<=10;i++){if(i==5)break;printf(“%d “,i);}return 0;}

OUTPUT
1 2 3 4

Program 2: Find 7

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){for(int i=1;i<=10;i++){if(i==7){printf(“Found”);break;}}return 0;}

OUTPUT
Found

Program 3: First even

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){for(int i=1;i<=10;i++){if(i%2==0){printf(“%d”,i);break;}}return 0;}

OUTPUT
2

Program 4: First multiple of 9

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){int i=1;while(i<=20){if(i%9==0)break;i++;}printf(“%d”,i);return 0;}

OUTPUT
9

Program 5: Stop negative

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){int a[]={5,4,3,-1,2};for(int i=0;i<5;i++){if(a[i]<0)break;printf(“%d “,a[i]);}return 0;}

OUTPUT
5 4 3

Program 6: Switch break

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){int c=2;switch(c){case 1:printf(“One”);break;case 2:printf(“Two”);break;default:printf(“Other”);}return 0;}

OUTPUT
Two

Program 7: Factorial stop

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){int f=1;for(int i=1;i<=10;i++){f*=i;if(f>100)break;}printf(“%d”,f);return 0;}

OUTPUT
120

Program 8: Search character

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){char s[]=”HELLO”;for(int i=0;s[i];i++){if(s[i]==’L’){printf(“Index=%d”,i);break;}}return 0;}

OUTPUT
Index=2

Program 9: Stop at 0

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){int a[]={2,4,0,8};for(int i=0;i<4;i++){if(a[i]==0)break;printf(“%d “,a[i]);}return 0;}

OUTPUT
2 4

Program 10: Table stop

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){for(int i=1;i<=10;i++){printf(“%d “,6*i);if(i==5)break;}return 0;}

OUTPUT
6 12 18 24 30

Program 11: Prime factor

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){int n=35;for(int i=2;i<=n;i++){if(n%i==0){printf(“%d”,i);break;}}return 0;}

OUTPUT
5

Program 12: First vowel

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){char s[]=”rhythmA”;for(int i=0;s[i];i++){if(s[i]==’A’||s[i]==’E’||s[i]==’I’||s[i]==’O’||s[i]==’U’||s[i]==’a’||s[i]==’e’||s[i]==’i’||s[i]==’o’||s[i]==’u’){printf(“%c”,s[i]);break;}}return 0;}

OUTPUT
A

Program 13: Sum until 20

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){int s=0;for(int i=1;i<=100;i++){s+=i;if(s>=20)break;}printf(“%d”,s);return 0;}

OUTPUT
21

Program 14: First square >50

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){for(int i=1;;i++){if(i*i>50){printf(“%d”,i*i);break;}}return 0;}

OUTPUT
64

Program 15: Nested break

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){for(int i=1;i<=3;i++){for(int j=1;j<=3;j++){if(j==2)break;printf(“%d%d “,i,j);}}return 0;}

OUTPUT
11 21 31