What is the purpose of the break statement in C?
a) To exit a loop or switch statement
b) To pause the execution of a loop
c) To return a value from a function
d) To allocate memory dynamically
Answer:
a) To exit a loop or switch statement
Explanation:
The break statement in C is used to exit from a loop (such as for, while, or do-while) or a switch statement before it reaches its natural termination. When a break statement is encountered inside a loop, the loop is immediately terminated, and control is transferred to the statement following the loop. In a switch statement, break prevents the execution from falling through to the next case. This control structure is crucial for controlling the flow of loops and switch statements based on specific conditions.
Understanding the break statement is essential for managing loops and switch statements effectively, ensuring that your program behaves as expected under various conditions.