Set Iterations with While Loop

In the previous chapter, we learned that a while loop continues executing as long as a specified condition remains true. But what if we want to repeat a certain chunk of code a fixed number of times, say 3 or 5 times? In these cases, we can achieve this by using a counter variable.

Let's consider the idea in more detail. We already know that expressions like x < 5 return true if x is less than five and false if x is greater than or equal to five.

This concept aligns with what we need for a fixed number of repetitions. However, to make this work, we need to set up a counter variable x and update it inside the loop. Look at the code below step by step:

main


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#include <iostream>

int main()
{
  // create variable for loop condition
  int i = 0; // variables for loops are usually called i or j
  while (i < 5)
  {
    std::cout << "Hello!" << std::endl;
    i++; // incrementing the i
  }
}

Note

The choice of the initial value for a variable and the increment used in a loop will impact the number of iterations. For instance, in this case initializing the variable with 3 will result in just 2 iterations.

Additionally, you can adjust the increment value, which will also affect the iteration count. The specific values to use for initialization and incrementing depend on the specific requirements and objectives of your task.

Try to experiment by modifying the starting value, altering the condition, or adjusting the increment value.

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Section 1. Chapter 2