---
title: "break Statement (C++) | Microsoft Docs"
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ms.date: "11/04/2016"
ms.technology: ["cpp-language"]
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dev_langs: ["C++"]
helpviewer_keywords: ["break keyword [C++]"]
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---
# break Statement (C++)

The **break** statement ends execution of the nearest enclosing loop or conditional statement in which it appears. Control passes to the statement that follows the end of the statement, if any.

## Syntax

```
break;
```

## Remarks

The **break** statement is used with the conditional [switch](../cpp/switch-statement-cpp.md) statement and with the [do](../cpp/do-while-statement-cpp.md), [for](../cpp/for-statement-cpp.md), and [while](../cpp/while-statement-cpp.md) loop statements.

In a **switch** statement, the **break** statement causes the program to execute the next statement outside the **switch** statement. Without a **break** statement, every statement from the matched **case** label to the end of the **switch** statement, including the **default** clause, is executed.

In loops, the **break** statement ends execution of the nearest enclosing **do**, **for**, or **while** statement. Control passes to the statement that follows the ended statement, if any.

Within nested statements, the **break** statement ends only the **do**, **for**, **switch**, or **while** statement that immediately encloses it. You can use a **return** or **goto** statement to transfer control from more deeply nested structures.

## Example

The following code shows how to use the **break** statement in a **for** loop.

```cpp
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    // An example of a standard for loop
    for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++)
    {
        if (i == 4) {
            break;
        }
        cout << i << '\n';
    }

    // An example of a range-based for loop
int nums []{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10};

    for (int i : nums) {
        if (i == 4) {
            break;
        }
        cout << i << '\n';
    }
}
```

```Output
In each case:
1
2
3
```

The following code shows how to use **break** in a **while** loop and a **do** loop.

```cpp
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    int i = 0;

    while (i < 10) {
        if (i == 4) {
            break;
        }
        cout << i << '\n';
        i++;
    }

    i = 0;
    do {
        if (i == 4) {
            break;
        }
        cout << i << '\n';
        i++;
    } while (i < 10);
}
```

```Output
In each case:
0123
```

The following code shows how to use **break** in a switch statement. You must use **break** in every case if you want to handle each case separately; if you do not use **break**, the code execution falls through to the next case.

```cpp
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

enum Suit{ Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs, Spades };

int main() {

    Suit hand;
    . . .
    // Assume that some enum value is set for hand
    // In this example, each case is handled separately
    switch (hand)
    {
    case Diamonds:
        cout << "got Diamonds \n";
        break;
    case Hearts:
        cout << "got Hearts \n";
        break;
    case Clubs:
        cout << "got Clubs \n";
        break;
    case Spades:
        cout << "got Spades \n";
        break;
    default:
          cout << "didn't get card \n";
    }
    // In this example, Diamonds and Hearts are handled one way, and
    // Clubs, Spades, and the default value are handled another way
    switch (hand)
    {
    case Diamonds:
    case Hearts:
        cout << "got a red card \n";
        break;
    case Clubs:
    case Spades:
    default:
        cout << "didn't get a red card \n";
    }
}
```

## See also

[Jump Statements](../cpp/jump-statements-cpp.md)<br/>
[Keywords](../cpp/keywords-cpp.md)<br/>
[continue Statement](../cpp/continue-statement-cpp.md)