JavaScript breakStatement
JavaScript Statement Reference
Examples
In this example, we used the break statement in a loop.
Loop through the code block and exit the loop when variable i is "3":
var i;
for (i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
if (i == 3) {
break;
}
text += "The number is " + i + "<br>";
}
textThe output is:
The number is 1
The number is 2
Try it Yourself »
More examples are included at the bottom of this article.
Definition and Usage
The break statement is used to exit a switch statement or loop statements (for, for...in, while, do...while).
When the break statement is used in a switch statement, it breaks out of the switch code block and terminates code execution.
When the break statement is used in a loop statement, it terminates the loop and executes the code after the loop (if any).
The break statement can also be used with an optional label reference to break out of a code block. (See "More Examples" below).
Note:The break statement (without a label reference) can only be used in a loop or switch.
Browser Support
| Statement | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| break | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Syntax
Using the optional label reference:
Technical Details
| JavaScript Version: | 1.0. JavaScript 1.2 supports optional labels. |
|---|

More Examples
Examples
This example uses the break statement in a while loop statement.
Loop through the code block and exit the loop when i equals "3":
var i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
text += "<br>The number is " + i;
i++;
if (i == 3) {
break;
}
}
textThe output is:
The number is 1
The number is 2
Try it Yourself »
Examples
Break out of the switch statement block to ensure that only one case statement block executes:
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;
}
dayThe output is:
Try it Yourself »
Examples
Using the break statement with a label reference to break out of a code block:
var text = "";
list: {
text += cars[0] + "<br>";
text += cars[1] + "<br>";
text += cars[2] + "<br>";
break list;
text += cars[3] + "<br>";
}
textThe output is:
Volvo
Saab
Try it Yourself »
Examples
Using the break statement with a label reference to break out of nested loops:
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 + " ";
}
}
textThe output is:
i = 1, j = 10 11
i = 2, j = 10 11
Try it Yourself »
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
JavaScript Statement Reference Other Extensions