JavaScript break Statement

Example

In this example we use a for loop together with the break statement.

Loop through a block of code, but exit the loop when the variable i is equal to "3":

var text = ""
var i;
for (i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
 if (i === 3) {
 break;
 }
 text += "The number is " + i + " ";
}

The result of text will be:

The number is 0
The number is 1
The number is 2

Try it yourself »

More "Try it Yourself" examples below.

Definition and Usage

The break statement exits a switch statement or a loop (for, for ... in, while, do ... while).

When the break statement is used with a switch statement, it breaks out of the switch block. This will stop the execution of more execution of code and/or case testing inside the block.

When the break statement is used in a loop, it breaks the loop and continues executing the code after the loop (if any).

The break statement can also be used with an optional label reference, to "jump out" of any JavaScript code block (see "More Examples" below).

Note: Without a label reference, the break statement can only be used inside a loop or a switch.

Browser Support

Statement
break	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Syntax

break;

Using the optional label reference:

break labelname;

Technical Details

JavaScript Version:	1.0. The label reference was added in JavaScript 1.2

More Examples

Example

In this example we use a while loop together with the break statement.

Loop through a block of code, but exit the loop when the variable i is equal to "3":

var text = "";
var i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
 text += " The number is " + i;
 i++;
 if (i === 3) {
 break;
 }
}

The result of text will be:

The number is 0
The number is 1
The number is 2

Try it yourself »

Example

Break out of a switch block to ensure that only one case is executed:

var day;
switch (new Date().getDay()) {
    case 0:
      day = "Sunday";
        break;
    case 1:
      day = "Monday";
        break;
    case 2:
      day = "Tuesday";
        break;
    case 3:
      day = "Wednesday";
        break;
    case 4:
      day = "Thursday";
        break;
    case 5:
      day = "Friday";
        break;
    case 6:
      day = "Saturday";
        break;
}

The result of day will be:

Try it yourself »

Example

Using the break statement with a label reference, to "jump out" of a JavaScript code block:

var cars = ["BMW", "Volvo", "Saab", "Ford"];
var text = "";

list: {
 text += cars[0] + " ";
 text += cars[1] + " ";
 text += cars[2] + " ";
 break list;
 text += cars[3] + " ";
}

The result of text will be:

BMW
Volvo
Saab

Try it yourself »