continue

The continue statement terminates execution of the statements in the current iteration of the current or labeled loop, and continues execution of the loop with the next iteration.

Syntax

continue [label];
label
Identifier associated with the label of the statement.

Description

In contrast to the break statement, continue does not terminate the execution of the loop entirely: instead,

  • In a while loop, it jumps back to the condition.
  • In a for loop, it jumps to the update expression.

The continue statement can include an optional label that allows the program to jump to the next iteration of a labeled loop statement instead of the current loop. In this case, the continue statement needs to be nested within this labeled statement.

Examples

Using continue with while

The following example shows a while loop that has a continue statement that executes when the value of i is 3. Thus, n takes on the values 1, 3, 7, and 12.

var i = 0;
var n = 0;

while (i < 5) {
  i++;

  if (i === 3) {
    continue;
  }

  n += i;
}

Using continue with a label

In the following example, a statement labeled checkiandj contains a statement labeled checkj. If continue is encountered, the program continues at the top of the checkj statement. Each time continue is encountered, checkj reiterates until its condition returns false. When false is returned, the remainder of the checkiandj statement is completed.

If continue had a label of checkiandj, the program would continue at the top of the checkiandj statement.

See also label.

var i = 0;
var j = 8;

checkiandj: while (i < 4) {
  console.log('i: ' + i);
  i += 1;

  checkj: while (j > 4) {
    console.log('j: ' + j);
    j -= 1;

    if ((j % 2) == 0)
      continue checkj;
    console.log(j + ' is odd.');
  }
  console.log('i = ' + i);
  console.log('j = ' + j);
}

Output:

i: 0

// start checkj
j: 8
7 is odd.
j: 7
j: 6
5 is odd.
j: 5
// end checkj

i = 1
j = 4

i: 1
i = 2
j = 4

i: 2
i = 3
j = 4

i: 3
i = 4
j = 4

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Continue statement' in that specification.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobileServer
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung InternetNode.js
continueChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support 3Opera Full support 4Safari Full support 1WebView Android Full support 1Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0nodejs Full support 0.1.100

Legend

Full support
Full support

See also