break

The break statement terminates the current loop, switch, or label statement and transfers program control to the statement following the terminated statement.

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Syntax

break [label];

label Optional

Identifier associated with the label of the statement. If the statement is not a loop or switch, this is required.

Description

The break statement includes an optional label that allows the program to break out of a labeled statement. The break statement needs to be nested within the referenced label. The labeled statement can be any block statement; it does not have to be preceded by a loop statement.

A break statement, with or without a following label, cannot be used within the body of a function that is itself nested within the current loop, switch, or label statement that the break statement is intended to break out of.

Examples

break in while loop

The following function has a break statement that terminates the while loop when i is 3, and then returns the value 3 * x.

function testBreak(x) {
  var i = 0;

  while (i < 6) {
    if (i == 3) {
      break;
    }
    i += 1;
  }

  return i * x;
}

break in labeled blocks

The following code uses break statements with labeled blocks. A break statement must be nested within any label it references. Notice that inner_block is nested within outer_block.

outer_block: {
  inner_block: {
    console.log('1');
    break outer_block; // breaks out of both inner_block and outer_block
    console.log(':-('); // skipped
  }
  console.log('2'); // skipped
}

break in labeled blocks that throw

The following code also uses break statements with labeled blocks, but generates a SyntaxError because its break statement is within block_1 but references block_2. A break statement must always be nested within any label it references.

block_1: {
  console.log('1');
  break block_2; // SyntaxError: label not found
}

block_2: {
  console.log('2');
}

break within functions

SyntaxErrors are also generated in the following code examples which use break statements within functions that are nested within a loop, or labeled block that the break statements are intended to break out of.

function testBreak(x) {
  var i = 0;

  while (i < 6) {
    if (i == 3) {
      (function() {
        break;
      })();
    }
    i += 1;
  }

return i * x;
}

testBreak(1); // SyntaxError: Illegal break statement

block_1: {
  console.log('1');
  ( function() {
    break block_1; // SyntaxError: Undefined label 'block_1'
  })();
}

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• continue
• label
• switch