# Loops

Loops are a way of making code appear "cleaner" and more efficient when repeated code is used.

## Parts of a Loop

1. Kind of loop     (e.g. `while`, `for`, `foreach`)
2. Initialization of a **control variable**       (e.g. `int count = 1;` `int i = 0;` etc.)\
   A **control variable** is a temporary variable used to iterate (increase or decrease) to limit the number of times a loop code runs.
3. Test conditions     (What needs to be true?)
4. Update the control variable      (e.g. `i++; i -= 5;` etc.)
5. Action to take      (What is in the code block) 

## Types of Loops

[While loops](https://hopemoore.gitbook.io/coding-for-creatives-spring-2021/glossary-and-terms/loops/while-loops)

[For loops](https://hopemoore.gitbook.io/coding-for-creatives-spring-2021/glossary-and-terms/loops/for-loops)

[Foreach loops](https://hopemoore.gitbook.io/coding-for-creatives-spring-2021/glossary-and-terms/loops/foreach-loops)

## Nested Loops

A loop INSIDE a loop? ? Heck, yeah!

The loops work the same inside other loops, BUT a different control variable will need to be used.

Generally, since `i` is often used, nested loops continue the alphabet: `j`, then `k`, then `l`...

Example:

```java
String[] names = { "Fluffy", "Nugget", "Pumpkin" };

for (int i = 0; i < names.length; i++) {
	for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {
		println(names[i]);
	}
}
```

Prints:

> Fluffy\
> Fluffy\
> Fluffy\
> Nugget\
> Nugget\
> Nugget\
> Pumpkin\
> Pumpkin\
> Pumpkin