C break statement

The break statement in C language is used to break the execution of loop (while, do while and for) and switch case.

In case of inner loops, it terminates the control of inner loop only.

There can be two usage of C break keyword:

With switch case 
With loop

Syntax:

jump-statement;   
break;  

The jump statement in c break syntax can be while loop, do while loop, for loop or switch case.

Flowchart of break in c

Example of C break statement with loop

#include <stdio.h>    
#include <conio.h>    
void main(){    
int i=1;//initializing a local variable  
clrscr();    
  
//starting a loop from 1 to 10  
for(i=1;i<=10;i++){    
printf("%d \n",i);  
if(i==5){//if value of i is equal to 5, it will break the loop  
break;  
}  
}//end of for loop  
  
getch();    
}    

Output

1
2
3
4
5

As you can see on console output, loop from 1 to 10 is not printed after i==5.

C break statement with inner loop

In such case, it breaks only inner loop, but not outer loop.

 
#include <stdio.h>    
#include <conio.h>    
void main(){    
int i=1,j=1;//initializing a local variable  
clrscr();    
  
for(i=1;i<=3;i++){    
for(j=1;j<=3;j++){  
printf("%d &d\n",i,j);  
if(i==2 && j==2){  
break;//will break loop of j only  
}  
}  
}//end of for loop  
  
getch();    
}    

Output

1 1
1 2
1 3
2 1
2 2
3 1
3 2
3 3

As you can see the output on console, 2 3 is not printed because there is break statement after printing i==2 and j==2. But 3 1, 3 2 and 3 3 is printed because break statement works for inner loop only.