Easy Tutorial
❮ Prop Meta Scheme Event Onprogress ❯

JavaScript break Statement

JavaScript Statements Reference

Example

This example demonstrates the use of the break statement in a loop.

The loop block exits when the variable i is "3":

var text = "";
var i;
for (i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    if (i == 3) {
        break;
    }
    text += "The number is " + i + "<br>";
}

text output result:

The number is 0
The number is 1
The number is 2

More examples are included at the bottom of this article.


Definition and Usage

The break statement is used to exit a switch statement or a loop (for, for...in, while, do...while).

When used in a switch statement, it exits the switch block, stopping the execution of any more code.

When used in a loop, it terminates the loop and continues executing the code after the loop (if any).

The break statement can also be used with an optional label reference to exit a block of code. (See "More Examples" below).

Note: The break statement (without label reference) can only be used inside loops or a switch.


Browser Support

Statement Chrome Edge Firefox Safari Opera
break Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Syntax

With optional label reference:

Technical Details

| JavaScript Version: | 1.0. JavaScript 1.2 supports optional labels. | | --- | --- |


More Examples

Example

This example uses the break statement in a while loop.

The loop block exits when i equals "3":

var text = "";
var i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
    text += "<br>The number is " + i;
    i++;
    if (i == 3) {
        break;
    }
}

text output result:

The number is 0
The number is 1
The number is 2

Example

Exiting a switch block to ensure only one case statement is executed:

var day;
switch (new Date().getDay()) {
    case 0:
        day = "Sunday";
        break;
    case 1:
        day = "Monday";
        break;
    case 2:
        day = "Tuesday";
        break;
    case 3:
        day = "Wednesday";
        break;
    case 4:
        day = "Thursday";
        break;
    case 5:
        day = "Friday";
        break;
    case 6:
        day = "Saturday";
        break;
}

day output result:

var d = new Date().getDay();
switch (d) {
    case 0:
        x = "Sunday";
        break;
    case 1:
        x = "Monday";
        break;
    case 2:
        x = "Tuesday";
        break;
    case 3:
        x = "Wednesday";
        break;
    case 4:
        x = "Thursday";
        break;
    case 5:
        x = "Friday";
        break;
    case 6:
        x = "Saturday";
        break;
}
document.write(x);

Example

Using the break statement with a label reference to exit a block:

var cars = ["BMW", "Volvo", "Saab", "Ford"];
var text = "";
list: {
    text += cars[0] + "<br>";
    text += cars[1] + "<br>";
    text += cars[2] + "<br>";
    break list;
    text += cars[3] + "<br>";
}

text output result:

BMW
Volvo
Saab

Example

Using the break statement with a label reference to exit nested loops:

var text = "";
var i, j;
Loop1: // First loop label "Loop1"
for (i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
    text += "<br>" + "i = " + i + ", j = ";
    Loop2: // Second loop label "Loop2"
    for (j = 10; j < 15; j++) {
        if (j == 12) {
            break Loop2;
        }
        document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = text += j + " ";
    }
}

text output result:

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

Related Pages

JavaScript Tutorial: JavaScript Break and Continue

JavaScript Tutorial: JavaScript Loops

JavaScript Tutorial: JavaScript While Loop

JavaScript Tutorial: JavaScript continue Statement

JavaScript Reference: JavaScript for Statement

JavaScript Reference: JavaScript while Statement


❮ Prop Meta Scheme Event Onprogress ❯