What is the Purpose of 'loop:' in Java Code?

Understanding "loop:" in Java Code

Java developers may encounter an unfamiliar syntax in code: "loop:". This raises questions about its nature and its role in the compilation process.

Explanation:

The "loop:" construct in Java is not a keyword but rather a label. Labels are used to identify specific points in code for quick referencing by break and continue statements.

Usage:

Labels are placed before loops or blocks and can be used to break out of nested loops prematurely. The break statement, followed by the label of the loop to break out of, allows for selective loop termination.

For example:

loop:
for (; ; ) {
    for (; ; ) {
        if (condition1) {
            break loop;
        }
        if (condition2) {
            break;
        }
    }
}

In this example, the label "loop:" enables breaking out of both nested loops upon encountering "condition1".

Documentation

The official Java documentation mentions that "loop:" is "used as a label for loops to be named using break and continue statements", providing a solid understanding of its utility and behavior.

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