JavaScript continue Statement
Example
In this example we use a for loop together with the continue statement.
Loop through a block of code, but skip the value of "3":
var text = "";
var i;
for (i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
if (i === 3) {
continue;
}
text += "The number is " + i + "<br>";
}
Try it Yourself »
More "Try it Yourself" 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.
Browser Support
Statement | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
continue | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Syntax
continue;
Using the optional label reference:
continue labelname;
Technical Details
JavaScript Version: | ECMAScript 1 |
---|
More Examples
Example
In this example we use a while loop together with the continue statement.
Loop through a block of code, but skip the value of "3":
var text = "";
var i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
i++;
if (i === 3) {
continue;
}
text += "<br>The number is " + i;
}
The result of text will be:
The number is 1
The number is 2
The number is 4
The number is 5
Try it Yourself »
Example
Loop through a block of code, but skip the numbers 2 and 3 (using the OR operator):
var text = "";
var i;
for (i = 1; i < 8; i++) {
if (i === 2 || i === 3) continue;
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML += i + "<br>";
}
The result of text will be:
1
4
5
6
7
Try it Yourself »
Example
In this example we use a for loop together with the continue statement.
Loop through an array, but skip the array's element "Saab":
var cars = ["BMW", "Volvo", "Saab", "Ford"];
var text = "";
var i;
for (i = 0; i < cars.length; i++) {
if (cars[i] === "Saab") {
continue;
}
text += cars[i] + "<br>";
}
The result of text will be:
BMW
Volvo
Ford
Try it Yourself »
Example
Using the continue statement with a label reference, to skip a value in a nested for loop:
var text = "";
var i, j;
Loop1: // The first for loop is labeled "Loop1"
for (i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
text += "<br>" + "i = " + i + ", j = ";
Loop2: // The second for loop is labeled "Loop2"
for (j = 10; j < 15; j++) {
if (j === 12) {
continue Loop2;
}
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = text += j + " ";
}
}
Try it Yourself »
Related Pages
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