How to break nested loops in JavaScript? [duplicate]

I tried this:

for(i = 0; i < 5; i++){
    for(j = i + 1; j < 5; j++){
        break(2);
    }
    alert(1);
}

only to get:

SyntaxError: missing ; before statement

So, how would I break a nested loop in JavaScript?


You should be able to break to a label, like so:

function foo () {
    dance:
    for (var k = 0; k < 4; k++) {
        for (var m = 0; m < 4; m++) {
            if (m == 2) {
                break dance;
            }
        }
    }
}

You need to name your outer loop and break that loop, rather than your inner loop - like this.

outer_loop: 
for(i=0;i<5;i++) {
    for(j=i+1;j<5;j++) {
        break outer_loop;
    }
    alert(1);
}

See Aaron's. Otherwise: j=5;i=5 instead of break.


There are at least five different ways to break out of two or more loops:

1) Set parent(s) loop to the end

for (i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
    for (j = 0; j < 5; j++)
    {
        if (j === 2)
        {
            i = 5;
            break;
        }
    }
}

2) Use label

fast:
for (i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
    for (j = 0; j < 5; j++)
    {
        if (j === 2)
            break fast;
    }
}

3) Use variable

var exit_loops = false;
for (i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
    for (j = 0; j < 5; j++)
    {
        if (j === 2)
        {
            exit_loops = true;
            break;
        }
    }
    if (exit_loops)
        break;
}

4) Use self executing function

(function()
{
    for (i = 0; i < 5; i++)
    {
        for (j = 0; j < 5; j++)
        {
             if (j === 2)
                 return;
        }
    }
})();

5) Use regular function

function nested_loops()
{
    for (i = 0; i < 5; i++)
    {
        for (j = 0; j < 5; j++)
        {
             if (j === 2)
                 return;
        }
    }
}
nested_loops();

loop1:
    for (var i in set1) {
loop2:
        for (var j in set2) {
loop3:
            for (var k in set3) {
                break loop2;  // breaks out of loop3 and loop2
            }
        }
    }

code copied from Best way to break from nested loops in Javascript?

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