PHP Break, Continue and Goto Statements Practice Questions with Solutions

Introduction

PHP provides control-flow statements that change how a program executes. The break statement exits a loop or switch block, while continue skips the remaining statements in the current loop iteration and moves to the next one. The goto statement transfers execution to a labeled statement within the same file and scope. In this chapter, you will practise PHP Break, Continue and Goto Statements Practice Questions with Solutions to help you understand the concepts.

Question 1: Stop a Loop When the Number Reaches 5 Using Break

Problem Statement

Write a PHP program that prints numbers from 1 to 10. Use the break statement to stop the loop when the number reaches 5.

PHP Solution

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 10; $i++) {
    if ($i == 5) {
        break;
    }

    echo $i . "\n";
}
?>

Sample Output

Explanation

The for loop starts at 1 and increases the value of $i by 1 during each iteration.

When $i becomes 5, the if condition becomes true. The break statement immediately terminates the loop, so 5 and the remaining numbers are not printed.

Concepts Covered

for loop
if statement
break statement
Loop termination
Increment operator

Question 2: Skip Even Numbers Using Continue

Problem Statement

Write a PHP program that prints numbers from 1 to 10 but skips all even numbers using the continue statement.

PHP Solution

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 10; $i++) {
    if ($i % 2 == 0) {
        continue;
    }

    echo $i . "\n";
}
?>

Sample Output

Explanation

The modulo operator (%) returns the remainder after division. When a number is divided by 2 and the remainder is 0, it is even.

The continue statement skips the echo statement for even numbers. The loop then proceeds to the next iteration.

Concepts Covered

continue statement
for loop
Modulo operator
Even and odd numbers
Conditional execution

Question 3: Find the First Number Divisible by 7 Using Break

Problem Statement

Write a PHP program that checks numbers from 1 to 50 and displays the first number divisible by both 7 and 5. Stop the loop when the number is found.

PHP Solution

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 50; $i++) {
    if ($i % 7 == 0 && $i % 5 == 0) {
        echo "First matching number: " . $i;
        break;
    }
}
?>

Sample Output

First matching number: 35

Explanation

The loop checks each number from 1 to 50.

The condition $i % 7 == 0 && $i % 5 == 0 checks whether the number is divisible by both 7 and 5 without a remainder.

The first number satisfying both conditions is 35. The program displays it and uses break to stop checking further numbers.

Concepts Covered

break statement
Modulo operator
Logical AND (&&)
Divisibility checks
Loop termination

Question 4: Skip Employees with Zero Salary Using Continue

Problem Statement

A company stores employee names and their salaries in an associative array. Write a PHP program that skips employees whose salary is zero and displays the details of the remaining employees.

PHP Solution

<?php
$employees = [
    "Amit" => 30000,
    "Priya" => 0,
    "Rahul" => 45000,
    "Neha" => 0,
    "Karan" => 38000
];

foreach ($employees as $name => $salary) {
    if ($salary == 0) {
        continue;
    }

    echo "Employee: " . $name . ", Salary: ₹" . $salary . "\n";
}
?>

Sample Output

Employee: Amit, Salary: ₹30000
Employee: Rahul, Salary: ₹45000
Employee: Karan, Salary: ₹38000

Explanation

The foreach loop processes each employee and their salary.

When the salary is zero, the continue statement skips the remaining statements for that employee. Employees with non-zero salaries are displayed.

This technique is useful when processing company records and ignoring entries that do not meet specific requirements.

Concepts Covered

foreach loop
Associative arrays
continue statement
Employee data processing
Conditional filtering

Question 5: Stop Processing Student Marks When an Invalid Value Appears

Problem Statement

A teacher stores student marks in an array. Write a PHP program that displays each mark but stops processing when it encounters a mark greater than 100 or less than 0.

PHP Solution

<?php
$marks = [75, 82, 68, 95, 110, 88];

foreach ($marks as $mark) {
    if ($mark < 0 || $mark > 100) {
        echo "Invalid mark found: " . $mark;
        break;
    }

    echo "Mark: " . $mark . "\n";
}
?>

Sample Output

Mark: 75
Mark: 82
Mark: 68
Mark: 95
Invalid mark found: 110

Explanation

The loop processes each mark in the array.

Before displaying a mark, the if statement checks whether it is outside the valid range of 0 to 100. When the value 110 is found, the program displays an error message and stops the loop using break.

The final value, 88, is never processed because the loop has already terminated.

Concepts Covered

foreach loop
break statement
Arrays
Logical OR (||)
Input validation

Question 6: Skip Products That Are Out of Stock

Problem Statement

An online store maintains a list of products and their available stock quantities. Write a PHP program that skips products with zero stock and displays only the products that are available.

PHP Solution

<?php
$products = [
    "Keyboard" => 12,
    "Mouse" => 0,
    "Monitor" => 5,
    "Printer" => 0,
    "Headphones" => 8
];

foreach ($products as $product => $stock) {
    if ($stock <= 0) {
        continue;
    }

    echo "Product: " . $product . ", Stock: " . $stock . "\n";
}
?>

Sample Output

Product: Keyboard, Stock: 12
Product: Monitor, Stock: 5
Product: Headphones, Stock: 8

Explanation

The program uses a foreach loop to examine each product’s stock quantity.

If the stock is zero or less, continue skips the current product. Otherwise, the product name and stock quantity are displayed.

This approach can help when generating reports of products currently available for sale.

Concepts Covered

foreach loop
continue statement
Associative arrays
Inventory management
Conditional filtering

Question 7: Exit a Switch Statement Using Break

Problem Statement

Write a PHP program that uses a switch statement to display a message based on a selected menu option. Use break to prevent PHP from executing the following cases.

PHP Solution

<?php
$choice = 2;

switch ($choice) {
    case 1:
        echo "Add a new record";
        break;

    case 2:
        echo "View existing records";
        break;

    case 3:
        echo "Delete a record";
        break;

    default:
        echo "Invalid menu option";
}
?>

Sample Output

View existing records

Explanation

The switch statement checks the value of $choice.

Since the value is 2, PHP executes case 2 and displays "View existing records". The break statement exits the switch block, preventing the following cases from executing.

Concepts Covered

switch statement
case blocks
break statement
Menu selection
Program control flow

Question 8: Use Break 2 to Exit Nested Loops

Problem Statement

Write a PHP program that uses two nested loops to display pairs of numbers. Stop both loops when the outer number is 2 and the inner number is 3.

PHP Solution

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 3; $i++) {
    for ($j = 1; $j <= 5; $j++) {
        if ($i == 2 && $j == 3) {
            break 2;
        }

        echo "(" . $i . ", " . $j . ")\n";
    }
}
?>

Sample Output

(1, 1)
(1, 2)
(1, 3)
(1, 4)
(1, 5)
(2, 1)
(2, 2)

Explanation

The program contains an outer loop controlled by $i and an inner loop controlled by $j.

When $i is 2 and $j is 3, the condition becomes true. The statement break 2 exits two levels of nested loops, so neither loop continues.

A plain break would exit only the inner loop.

Concepts Covered

Nested loops
break 2
Logical AND (&&)
Multiple loop termination
Control-flow levels

Question 9: Use Goto to Jump to a Label

Problem Statement

Write a PHP program that displays a starting message, jumps to a labeled statement using goto, and then displays a final message.

PHP Solution

<?php
echo "Program started\n";

goto finish;

echo "This message will be skipped\n";

finish:
echo "Program finished";
?>

Sample Output

Program started
Program finished

Explanation

The goto finish; statement transfers program execution to the label named finish.

The statement between goto and the label is skipped, so "This message will be skipped" is not displayed.

The label is written as a name followed by a colon. Although goto is available in PHP, excessive use can make programs harder to understand and maintain.

Concepts Covered

goto statement
Labels
Jumping within program flow
Skipping statements
Code readability

Question 10: Skip Negative Numbers and Stop at Zero

Problem Statement

Write a PHP program that processes a list of numbers. Skip negative numbers using continue, display positive numbers, and stop the loop when the number zero is encountered using break.

PHP Solution

<?php
$numbers = [10, -5, 20, -3, 15, 0, 25, 30];

foreach ($numbers as $number) {
    if ($number == 0) {
        echo "Zero found. Stopping the loop.";
        break;
    }

    if ($number < 0) {
        continue;
    }

    echo $number . "\n";
}
?>

Sample Output

10
20
15
Zero found. Stopping the loop.

Explanation

This program demonstrates break and continue together.

If the number is zero, break stops the entire loop.
If the number is negative, continue skips the current iteration.
If the number is positive, PHP displays it.

Once zero is encountered, the loop stops, so the numbers after zero are not processed.

Concepts Covered

break statement
continue statement
foreach loop
Conditional statements
Multiple control-flow statements

Key Takeaways

The break statement terminates the current loop or switch block.
The continue statement skips the remaining statements in the current loop iteration.
The goto statement transfers execution to a labeled statement within the same file and scope.
break 2 can exit two levels of nested loops.
You can use break and continue with for, while, do-while, and foreach loops.
In a switch statement, break prevents execution from continuing into subsequent cases.
continue is useful for skipping invalid records or entries that do not meet a condition.
goto in PHP should be used sparingly because it can make program flow harder to follow.
Choose the appropriate control-flow statement based on whether you need to stop a loop, skip one iteration, or jump to a label.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the break statement in PHP?

The break statement immediately exits the current loop or switch block. It is useful when a condition is met and no further iterations or cases need to be processed.

2. What is the continue statement in PHP?

The continue statement skips the remaining statements in the current loop iteration and proceeds to the next iteration.

3. What is the difference between break and continue?

break stops the loop completely, while continue skips only the current iteration and allows the loop to continue.

4. Can we use break inside a switch statement?

Yes. break is commonly used inside a switch statement to exit the matching case block and prevent execution from continuing into later cases.

5. What does break 2 mean in PHP?

break 2 exits two levels of nested loops or control structures. It is useful when a condition inside an inner loop must stop both the inner and outer loops.

6. What is the goto statement in PHP?

The goto statement transfers program execution to a labeled statement within the same file and scope, subject to PHP’s restrictions on jumping into certain structures.

7. Can goto jump into a loop or switch statement?

PHP restricts jumping into certain structures, including loops and switch statements. Use goto only where PHP permits the jump, and prefer structured control flow whenever possible.

8. Can continue be used inside a foreach loop?

Yes. continue works inside a foreach loop and skips the remaining statements for the current element before processing the next element.

9. Should beginners use goto in PHP?

Beginners should understand how goto works but generally prefer loops, conditions, functions, and other structured control-flow tools. These usually make code easier to read and maintain.

10. Can break and continue be used together in the same loop?

Yes. A loop can use break to stop processing completely and continue to skip individual iterations, depending on the conditions.

Written by Shubhranshu Shekhar, who has trained 20000+ students in coding.

Rishabh Kumar

Introduction

Question 1: Stop a Loop When the Number Reaches 5 Using Break

Problem Statement

PHP Solution

Sample Output

Explanation

Concepts Covered

Question 2: Skip Even Numbers Using Continue

Problem Statement

PHP Solution

Sample Output

Explanation

Concepts Covered

Question 3: Find the First Number Divisible by 7 Using Break

Problem Statement

PHP Solution

Sample Output

Explanation

Concepts Covered

Question 4: Skip Employees with Zero Salary Using Continue

Problem Statement

PHP Solution

Sample Output

Explanation

Concepts Covered

Question 5: Stop Processing Student Marks When an Invalid Value Appears

Problem Statement

PHP Solution

Sample Output

Explanation

Concepts Covered

Question 6: Skip Products That Are Out of Stock

Problem Statement

PHP Solution

Sample Output

Explanation

Concepts Covered

Question 7: Exit a Switch Statement Using Break

Problem Statement

PHP Solution

Sample Output

Explanation

Concepts Covered

Question 8: Use Break 2 to Exit Nested Loops

Problem Statement

PHP Solution

Sample Output

Explanation

Concepts Covered

Question 9: Use Goto to Jump to a Label

Problem Statement

PHP Solution

Sample Output

Explanation

Concepts Covered

Question 10: Skip Negative Numbers and Stop at Zero

Problem Statement

PHP Solution

Sample Output

Explanation

Concepts Covered

Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the break statement in PHP?

2. What is the continue statement in PHP?

3. What is the difference between break and continue?

4. Can we use break inside a switch statement?

5. What does break 2 mean in PHP?

6. What is the goto statement in PHP?

7. Can goto jump into a loop or switch statement?

8. Can continue be used inside a foreach loop?

9. Should beginners use goto in PHP?

10. Can break and continue be used together in the same loop?

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