The answer is that the continue statement skips the rest of the loop body, including the counter update. In Java, when the continue statement is executed inside a for loop, control immediately jumps to the increment expression and the next iteration, bypassing any code that follows the continue keyword within the current iteration. Here, because updateCounter() is placed after the continue, it is never reached when a null record is encountered, so the counter fails to reflect only processed non-null records. This question tests your understanding of loop control flow, a common exam trap on the Oracle Certified Professional Java SE 17 Developer 1Z0-829 where candidates mistakenly assume continue only skips the current condition check rather than the entire remaining loop body. A reliable memory tip: think of continue as a "skip the rest" command—anything after it in the same iteration is dead code.
1Z0-829 Controlling Program Flow Practice Question
This 1Z0-829 practice question tests your understanding of controlling program flow. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A developer is implementing a batch processing application that reads records from a list and processes them. The method uses a for loop with an index variable. Inside the loop, if a record is null, the developer wants to skip that iteration and continue with the next index. The developer writes: for (int i = 0; i < records.size(); i++) { if (records.get(i) == null) continue; process(records.get(i)); updateCounter(); } However, the counter is not updated correctly. The developer expects the counter to reflect the number of processed (non-null) records. What is the problem?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The continue statement skips the rest of the loop body, including the counter update.
Option C is correct because the `continue` statement immediately jumps to the next iteration of the loop, skipping any remaining code in the current iteration. In this case, `updateCounter()` is placed after the `continue` in the loop body, so when a null record is encountered, the counter update is never executed, causing the counter to not reflect the number of processed (non-null) records.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The continue statement is only valid inside a while loop.
Why it's wrong here
continue works in for, while, and do-while loops.
✗
The continue statement should be replaced with a break.
Why it's wrong here
break would exit the loop, not skip the iteration.
✓
The continue statement skips the rest of the loop body, including the counter update.
Why this is correct
continue causes the loop to proceed to the next iteration, skipping subsequent statements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The counter variable should be declared as volatile.
Why it's wrong here
volatile is not needed for single-threaded access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think `continue` only affects the current iteration's processing but forget that it also skips all subsequent statements in the loop body, including counter updates, leading them to choose options like A or D instead of recognizing the control flow issue.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `continue` statement in Java works by transferring control to the increment expression of the `for` loop (i++), then re-evaluating the loop condition. This means any code after `continue` in the loop body is bypassed. In real-world batch processing, this pattern is common when filtering invalid records, but the counter must be placed before the `continue` or the logic must be restructured (e.g., using an `if` block) to ensure accurate counting. A subtle behavior is that `continue` does not affect the loop's index variable—it still increments normally.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 1Z0-829 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Controlling Program Flow — This question tests Controlling Program Flow — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The continue statement skips the rest of the loop body, including the counter update. — Option C is correct because the `continue` statement immediately jumps to the next iteration of the loop, skipping any remaining code in the current iteration. In this case, `updateCounter()` is placed after the `continue` in the loop body, so when a null record is encountered, the counter update is never executed, causing the counter to not reflect the number of processed (non-null) records.
What should I do if I get this 1Z0-829 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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