The break statement in C Programming is very useful to exit from any loop such as for Loop, while Loop, and do-while Loop. While executing these loops, if the C compiler finds the break statement inside them, then the loop will stop executing the statements and immediately exit from the loop.

break is jump statement used to terminate a switch or loop on some desired condition. On execution, it immediately transfer program control outside the body of loop or switch. In the case of nested switch or loop, it terminates the innermost switch or loop.

Basically break statements are used in the situations when we are not sure about the actual number of iterations for the loop or we want to terminate the loop based on some condition.

Flow chart for break statement

How to use break statement

You must follow some rules while using break statement.

• You must write break statement inside a loop or switch. Use of break keyword outside the switch or loop will result in compilation error.
• break statement is generally used with condition(if statements) inside loop.
• In case of nested loop or switch, break only terminates the innermost loop or switch.
• Use of break inside switch...case will transfer the program control outside the switch.
• break statement only terminate program control from nearest matched loop or switch.

break statement in switch-case

break statement in for loop

break statement in while loop

break statement in do-while loop

break statement with nested loops

Example of break statement

// Program to calculate the sum of a maximum of 10 numbers
// If a negative number is entered, the loop terminates
# include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
    int i;
    double number, sum = 0.0;
    for(i=1; i <= 10; ++i)
    {
        printf("Enter a n%d: ",i);
        scanf("%lf",&number);
        // If the user enters a negative number, the loop ends
        if(number < 0.0)
        {
            break;
        }
        sum += number; // sum = sum + number;
    }
    printf("Sum = %.2lf",sum);
    
    return 0;
}

Output

Enter a n1: 2.4
Enter a n2: 4.5
Enter a n3: 3.4
Enter a n4: -3
Sum = 10.30