C For Loop

The for loop in C is used when you know the number of iterations in advance. It allows you to initialize a loop counter, specify a condition for continuing the loop, and update the counter in a single line, making it a compact loop structure.

1. For Loop Syntax

The for loop executes the code block a specified number of times, based on the initialization, condition, and increment/decrement operations defined in the loop header.

                        
for (initialization; condition; increment/decrement) {
    // code to be executed
}
                        
                    

Flowchart of for loop in C

                        
#include <stdio.h>
int main() 
{
    for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    printf("%d\n", i);
    }
   return 0;
}
                        
                    

2. Key Points of the For Loop

• The for loop is ideal when the number of iterations is known beforehand.
• It allows you to initialize a counter, define the condition, and update the counter in one line.
• If the condition is false from the beginning, the loop body will not execute.

3. When to Use the For Loop

• Use the for loop when you know the number of iterations in advance or when you need to iterate through a range of values in a controlled manner.
• It is especially useful when you need to perform repetitive tasks with a defined number of iterations, such as iterating over an array.

4. Comparison with Other Loops