5.2. For Loops¶
Another type of loop in Java is a for loop. This is usually used when you know how many times you want the loop to execute. It is often a simple counter-controlled loop to do the loop body a set number of times.
If you took AP CSP with a block programming language like App Inventor, you probably used a for loop block like below that looks very similar to Java for loops. If you have used a language like Scratch or Snap!, you may remember the repeat(n) block where you type in a number of times you want the code to be repeated, just like the AP pseudocode REPEAT block. In fact, almost every programming language has a for or repeat loop.
![../_images/loopAppInv.png](../_images/loopAppInv.png)
Figure 1: Comparing App Inventor and Java for loops¶
5.2.1. Three Parts of a For Loop¶
A for-loop combines all 3 parts of writing a loop in one line to initialize, test, and change the loop control variable. The 3 parts are separated by semicolons (;
). Each of the three parts of a for
loop declaration is optional (initialization, condition, and change), but the semicolons are not optional.
for (initialize; test condition; change)
{
loop body
}
The for-loop is almost a shortcut way to write a while loop with all three steps that you need in one line.
![../_images/compareForAndWhile.png](../_images/compareForAndWhile.png)
Figure 2: Showing how a for loop maps to a while loop¶
Watch the following video which compares a while loop and for loop line by line.
Here is a control flow diagram for a for loop. The code in the initialization area is executed only one time before the loop begins, the test condition is checked each time through the loop and the loop continues as long as the condition is true, and the loop control variable change is done at the end of each execution of the body of the loop, just like a while loop. When the loop condition is false, execution will continue at the next statement after the body of the loop.
![../_images/ForLoopFlow.png](../_images/ForLoopFlow.png)
Figure 2: Control flow in a for loop¶
Here is a for loop that counts from 1 to 5. Can you change it to count from 2 to 10?
Here is a while loop that counts from 5 to 10. Run it and see what it does. Can you change it to a for-loop? Run your for-loop. Does it do the same thing?
Note
Two common patterns in for-loops are to count from 0 up to an number (using <) or count from 1 to the number including the number (using <=). Remember that if you start at 0 use <, and if you start at 1, use <=. The two loops below using these two patterns both run 10 times. The variable i (for index) is often used as a counter in for-loops.
// These loops both run 10 times
// If you start at 0, use <
for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
System.out.println(i);
}
// If you start at 1, use <=
for(int i = 1; i <= 10; i++)
{
System.out.println(i);
}
- 3 4 5 6 7 8
- This loop starts with i equal to 3 but ends when i is equal to 8.
- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
- What is i set to in the initialization area?
- 8 8 8 8 8
- This would be true if the for loop was missing the change part
(int i = 3; i < 8; )
but it does increment i in the change part(int i = 3; i < 8; i++)
. - 3 4 5 6 7
- The value of i is set to 3 before the loop executes and the loop stops when i is equal to 8. So the last time through the loop i is equal to 7.
4-2-4: What does the following code print?
for (int i = 3; i < 8; i++)
{
System.out.print(i + " ");
}
- 3 4 5 6 7 8
- What is i set to in the initialization area?
- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- What is i set to in the initialization area?
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
- The value of i starts at 1 and this loop will execute until i equals 11. The last time through the loop the value of i is 10.
- 1 3 5 7 9
- This loop changes i by 1 each time in the change area.
4-2-5: What does the following code print?
for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++)
{
System.out.print(i + " ");
}
- 10
- This would be true if i started at 0 and ended at 9. Does it?
- 6
- Since i starts at 3 and the last time through the loop it is 9 the loop executes 7 times (9 - 3 + 1 = 7)
- 7
- How many numbers are between 3 and 9 (including 3 and 9)?
- 9
- This would be true if i started at 0 and the value of i the last time through the loop it was 8.
4-2-6: How many times does the following method print a *
?
for (int i = 3; i <= 9; i++)
{
System.out.print("*");
}
The following method has the correct code to print out all the even values from 0 to the value of 10, but the code is mixed up. Drag the blocks from the left into the correct order on the right and indent them correctly. Even though Java doesn’t require indention it is a good habit to get into. You will be told if any of the blocks are in the wrong order or not indented correctly when you click the “Check Me” button.
5.2.2. Decrementing Loops¶
You can also count backwards in a loop starting from the last number and decrementing down to 0 or 1. All 3 parts of the loop must change to count backwards including the test of when to stop. For example, for (int i=5; i > 0; i--)
counts from 5 down to 1.
What do you think will happen when you run the code below? How would it change if you changed line 11 to initialize i’s value to 3? Try the Code Lens button to visualize and trace through this code.
The method printPopSong prints the words to a song. It initializes the value of the variable i equal to 5 and then checks if i is greater than 0. Since 5 is greater than 0, the body of the loop executes. Before the condition is checked again, i is decreased by 1. When the value in i is equal to 0 the loop stops executing.
Can you make the loop count by 2s backwards? It should print out 5 3 1? Remember to change all 3 parts of the for loop.
5.2.3. Turtle Loops¶
Do you remember when we used the turtle objects to draw shapes? To create a square without loops we had to repeat code to go forward and turn 90 degrees to the right 4 times like below. Can you change the code below to remove the repeated lines of code and use a loop to draw 4 sides of the square? Did you notice that the code becomes a lot shorter? You should only need 1 call to forward and 1 call to turn in the loop. Whenever you find yourself repeating code, try to use a loop instead!
(If the code below does not work for you, you can copy the code into this replit link (refresh page after forking and if it gets stuck) or download the files here to use in your own IDE.)
Can you change the code below to remove the repeated lines of code and use a loop to draw 4 sides of the square?
5.2.4.
Programming Challenge : Turtles Drawing Shapes¶
In the last exercise, you used a for-loop to have the turtle draw a square. Use the Active Code window below or this replit link to have yertle draw the following shapes using loops. We encourage you to work in pairs.
Have yertle draw an equilateral triangle using a loop. How many times should the loop run? Remember that it ran 4 times for a square, so how many for a triangle? What angle should you use for the turns? One way to figure this out is to notice that to complete a shape, all the exterior angles should add up to 360 degrees. So, for a square 4x90 = 360.
Have yertle draw a pentagon using a loop. A pentagon has 5 sides. What external angle should you use for the turns? Remember they have to add up to 360 degrees.
Create a variable n that holds the number of sides for any polygon, and use n in your loop for the sides and to calculate the angle to turn. Can you have the loop draw a variety of shapes by just changing the value of the variable n? The power of abstraction! Can you draw a 9 sided nonagon? (Note that if the turtle runs into walls, it stays there and will mess up the shape, so you may have to move the turtle or go forward smaller amounts).
Use a for-loop to draw a triangle. Then, change it to a pentagon. Then change it to draw any polygon using a variable n that holds the number of sides. Note that the angles in the turns have to add up to 360. The autograder only checks one shape at a time, so comment out the code for one shape before starting on the next.
5.2.5. Summary¶
There are three parts in a for loop header: the initialization, the test condition (a Boolean expression), and an increment or decrement statement to change the loop control variable.
In a for loop, the initialization statement is only executed once before the evaluation of the test Boolean expression. The variable being initialized is referred to as a loop control variable.
In each iteration of a for loop, the increment or decrement statement is executed after the entire loop body is executed and before the Boolean expression is evaluated again.
A for loop can be rewritten into an equivalent while loop and vice versa.
5.2.6. AP Practice¶
I and II only
-
Note that I has an extra count++ at the beginning of the loop body that should be deleted.
II and III only
-
Correct! In the II, the loop counter increments by 2’s making sure it visits only even numbers and III generates the same sum but backwards.
I and III only
-
Note that I has an extra count++ at the beginning of the loop body that should be deleted.
III only
-
This is partially correct.
I, II, and III
-
Note that I has an extra count++ at the beginning of the loop body that should be deleted.
4-2-12: Consider the following code segment.
int count = 0, sum = 0;
while (count <= 6)
{
count++;
if (count % 2 == 0)
{
sum += count;
}
}
System.out.println(sum);
Which of the following code segments will produce the same output as the code segment above?
I. int sum = 0;
for(int count = 0; count <= 6; count++)
{
count++;
if (count % 2 == 0)
{
sum += count;
}
}
System.out.println(sum);
II. int sum = 0;
for(int i = 0; i <= 6; i += 2)
{
sum += i;
}
System.out.println(sum);
III. int sum = 0;
for(int j = 7; j > 1; j--)
{
if (j % 2 == 0)
{
sum += j;
}
}
System.out.println(sum);
The output of the code segment will be unchanged.
-
One will multiply odd numbers and the other even numbers.
The output will be the same, but the new loop will iterate more times.
-
One will multiply odd numbers and the other even numbers.
The output will be different, but both versions of the loop will iterate two times.
-
Correct! One will multiply 3*5 and the other 4*6.
The output will be different, and the new loop will iterate more times.
-
The output is different but they both would iterate 2 times.
This will cause an error.
-
It will not cause an error.
4-2-13: Consider the following code segment.
int result = 1;
for(int i = 3; i < 6; i += 2)
{
result *= i;
}
System.out.println(result);
Which of the following best explains how changing the for loop header to for (int i = 4; i <= 6; i += 2)
affects the output of the code segment?