How do I break out of nested loops in Java?

To break out of nested loops in Java, you can use one of the following methods:

1. Labeled Break (Most Direct)

Add a label before the outer loop and use break [label] to exit all nested loops.

outerLoop: // Label the outer loop
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    for (int j = 0; j < 5; j++) {
        if (i * j == 6) {
            break outerLoop; // Exit BOTH loops
        }
        System.out.println(i + " " + j);
    }
}

2. Flag Variable (Explicit Control)

Use a boolean flag to signal termination from inner loops:

boolean exitLoops = false;
for (int i = 0; i < 5 && !exitLoops; i++) {
    for (int j = 0; j < 5; j++) {
        if (i * j == 6) {
            exitLoops = true; // Set flag to true
            break; // Exit inner loop
        }
        System.out.println(i + " " + j);
    }
}

3. Encapsulate in a Method (Cleaner Code)

Place nested loops in a method and use return to exit:

public static void main(String[] args) {
    runLoops();
}

static void runLoops() {
    for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
        for (int j = 0; j < 5; j++) {
            if (i * j == 6) {
                return; // Exit entire method
            }
            System.out.println(i + " " + j);
        }
    }
}

Comparison

Method	Pros	Cons
Labeled Break	Direct, minimal code	Rarely used in practice; can reduce readability
Flag Variable	Explicit control flow	Requires checking flag in outer loop
Method Return	Clean, modular code	Requires encapsulating loops in a method

Best Practices

• Use labeled breaks for simple nested loops (2-3 levels).
• Prefer flag variables if you need additional cleanup steps before exiting.
• For complex logic, encapsulate loops in a method to improve readability.

Avoid using exceptions (e.g., throw new Exception()) for control flow, as this is considered poor practice.