JavaScript For Loop

Loops can execute a block of code a number of times.

JavaScript Loops

Loops are handy, if you want to run the same code over and over again, each time with a different value.

Often this is the case when working with arrays:

Instead of writing:

text += cars[0] + "<br>";
text += cars[1] + "<br>";
text += cars[2] + "<br>";
text += cars[3] + "<br>";
text += cars[4] + "<br>";
text += cars[5] + "<br>";

You can write:

for (let i = 0; i < cars.length; i++) {
  text += cars[i] + "<br>";
}

Different Kinds of Loops

JavaScript supports different kinds of loops:

  • for - loops through a block of code a number of times
  • for/in - loops through the properties of an object
  • for/of - loops through the values of an iterable object
  • while - loops through a block of code while a specified condition is true
  • do/while - also loops through a block of code while a specified condition is true

The For Loop

The for statement creates a loop with 3 optional expressions:

for (expression 1; expression 2; expression 3) {
  // code block to be executed
}

Expression 1 is executed (one time) before the execution of the code block.

Expression 2 defines the condition for executing the code block.

Expression 3 is executed (every time) after the code block has been executed.

Example

for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
  text += "The number is " + i + "<br>";
}

From the example above, you can read:

Expression 1 sets a variable before the loop starts (let i = 0).

Expression 2 defines the condition for the loop to run (i must be less than 5).

Expression 3 increases a value (i++) each time the code block in the loop has been executed.

Expression 1

Normally you will use expression 1 to initialize the variable used in the loop (let i = 0).

This is not always the case. JavaScript doesn't care. Expression 1 is optional.

You can initiate many values in expression 1 (separated by comma):

Example

for (let i = 0, len = cars.length, text = ""; i < len; i++) {
  text += cars[i] + "<br>";
}

And you can omit expression 1 (like when your values are set before the loop starts):

Example

let i = 2;
let len = cars.length;
let text = "";
for (; i < len; i++) {
  text += cars[i] + "<br>";
}

Expression 2

Often expression 2 is used to evaluate the condition of the initial variable.

This is not always the case. JavaScript doesn't care. Expression 2 is also optional.

If expression 2 returns true, the loop will start over again. If it returns false, the loop will end.

If you omit expression 2, you must provide a break inside the loop. Otherwise the loop will never end. This will crash your browser. Read about breaks in a later chapter of this tutorial.

Expression 3

Often expression 3 increments the value of the initial variable.

This is not always the case. JavaScript doesn't care. Expression 3 is optional.

Expression 3 can do anything like negative increment (i--), positive increment (i = i + 15), or anything else.

Expression 3 can also be omitted (like when you increment your values inside the loop):

Example

let i = 0;
let len = cars.length;
let text = "";
for (; i < len; ) {
  text += cars[i] + "<br>";
  i++;
}

Loop Scope

Using var in a loop:

Example

var i = 5;

for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
  // some code
}

// Here i is 10

Using let in a loop:

Example

let i = 5;

for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
  // some code
}

// Here i is 5

In the first example, using var, the variable declared in the loop redeclares the variable outside the loop.

In the second example, using let, the variable declared in the loop does not redeclare the variable outside the loop.

When let is used to declare the i variable in a loop, the i variable will only be visible within the loop.

For/Of and For/In Loops

The for/in loop and the for/of loop are explained in the next chapter.

While Loops

The while loop and the do/while are explained in the next chapters.