Skip to content

What are the ways we can break out of a loop in JavaScript?

Here is a for loop:

const list = ['a', 'b', 'c']
for (let i = 0; i < list.length; i++) {

}

We can break at any point in time the execution using the break keyword:

const list = ['a', 'b', 'c']
for (let i = 0; i < list.length; i++) {
  if (list[i] === 'b') break
  console.log(list[i])
}

break also works in for..of loops:

const list = ['a', 'b', 'c']
for (const item of list) {
  if (item === 'b') break
  console.log(item)
}

And in while:

const list = ['a', 'b', 'c']
let i = 0
while (i < list.length) {
  if (i === 'b') break
  console.log(list[i])
  i++
}

The continue keyword lets us skip one iteration, in the for and for..of and while loops. The loop does end that iteration, and will continue from the next one.

A for..in loop can’t use break. It’s not possible to end it in this way.

β†’ Get my JavaScript Beginner's Handbook
β†’ Read my JavaScript Tutorials on The Valley of Code
β†’ Read my TypeScript Tutorial on The Valley of Code