Continue in While Loop: Variable Increment
What is the output of the following code?
int i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
if (i == 3) {i++; continue;
}
System.out.print(i + " "); i++;
}
Quick Answer
The answer is 0 1 2 4. This output occurs because the continue statement, paired with a variable increment inside the if block, forces the loop to skip the remainder of the current iteration when i equals 3, jumping directly to the next loop condition check. The key technical concept here is that the continue statement does not automatically advance the loop counter; you must explicitly increment i before the continue, otherwise the loop would become infinite. On the Oracle Java Foundations 1Z0-811 exam, this pattern tests your understanding of loop control flow and the common trap of forgetting to increment before a continue, which leads to an endless loop. A reliable memory tip is "increment before you skip"—always ensure your loop variable is updated before the continue keyword to avoid infinite loops.
⚠ Common exam trap
Oracle often tests the interaction between continue and the loop variable increment, where candidates mistakenly think continue skips the increment or that the loop prints the value that triggers the continue.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
0 1 2 4
The while loop iterates while i < 5. When i equals 3, the if condition triggers, incrementing i to 4 and then using continue to skip the print statement for that iteration. Thus, 3 is never printed, and the loop prints 0, 1, 2, and then 4 before i becomes 5 and the loop ends.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
0 1 2 4
Why this is correct
Correctly skips 3 due to continue.
- ✗
0 1 2 3
Why it's wrong here
Missing 4 and includes 3.
- ✗
0 1 2 4 5
Why it's wrong here
Loop stops at i<5, so 5 not printed.
- ✗
0 1 2 3 4
Why it's wrong here
Does not skip 3.
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Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on 1Z0-811
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. What is the output of the code? ```java for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) { if (i == 2) { continue; } System.out.print(i + " "); } ```
medium- A.0 1 2 3 4
- B.1 3 4
- C.0 1 2 3
- ✓ D.0 1 3 4
Why D: The code uses a for loop that iterates from i = 0 to i < 5 (i.e., 0 through 4). Inside the loop, there is an if condition that checks if i equals 2. When i == 2, the continue statement is executed, which skips the rest of that iteration, so the System.out.print statement is not executed for i = 2. Therefore, the loop prints 0, 1, 3, and 4, each followed by a space. Option D correctly lists this output.
Variation 2. A developer writes: for(int i=0; i<10; i++) { if(i%2==0) continue; System.out.print(i); }. What is the output?
hard- A.0123456789
- ✓ B.13579
- C.02468
- D.123456789
Why B: The loop iterates from i=0 to i=9. The `continue` statement skips the rest of the loop body when the condition `i%2==0` is true (i.e., when i is even). Therefore, only odd values of i (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) are printed, producing the output '13579'. Option B is correct.
Variation 3. In a Java method, a developer needs to skip the current iteration and move to the next when a certain condition is met inside a for loop. Which statement should be used?
easy- A.return;
- B.exit;
- ✓ C.continue;
- D.break;
Why C: The `continue` statement in Java immediately skips the remaining code in the current iteration of a loop and proceeds to the next iteration. This is exactly what the developer needs when a condition is met inside a `for` loop to move to the next cycle without executing further statements in the current iteration.
JA
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Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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