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JavaScript continue Statement

< JavaScript Statements Reference

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>";
}

The result of text will be:

The number is 0
The number is 1
The number is 2
The number is 4
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: 1.0. The label reference was added in JavaScript 1.2

Examples

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 + " ";
    }
}

The result of text will be:

i = 0, j = 10 11 13 14
i = 1, j = 10 11 13 14
i = 2, j = 10 11 13 14
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


< JavaScript Statements Reference