Getting Started with PHP Loops

Understanding PHP Loops

PHP provides several types of loops, which allow you to execute a block of code repeatedly. The common loop types are for, while, and foreach.

1. Syntax of PHP For Loop

The for loop is used when you know in advance how many times you want to execute a statement or a block of statements:

for (initialization; condition; increment) {
    // code to be executed;
}

2. Example Usage of PHP For Loop

The following example demonstrates the use of a for loop:

<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 5; $i++) {
    echo "Number: $i
";
}
?>

Output:

This example uses a for loop to print numbers from 1 to 5. The loop continues as long as the condition `$i <= 5` is true, incrementing the value of `$i` with each iteration.

3. Syntax of PHP While Loop

The while loop is used when you want to execute a block of code as long as the condition is true:

while (condition) {
    // code to be executed;
}

4. Example Usage of PHP While Loop

The following example demonstrates the use of a while loop:

<?php
$i = 1;
while ($i <= 5) {
    echo "Number: $i
";
    $i++;
}
?>

Output:

This example uses a while loop to print numbers from 1 to 5. The condition `$i <= 5` is checked before each iteration, and the value of `$i` is incremented after each print.

5. Syntax of PHP Foreach Loop

The foreach loop is used to iterate over an array. It is especially useful when working with arrays:

foreach ($array as $value) {
    // code to be executed;
}

6. Example Usage of PHP Foreach Loop

The following example demonstrates the use of a foreach loop:

<?php
$fruits = array("Apple", "Banana", "Cherry");

foreach ($fruits as $fruit) {
    echo "Fruit: $fruit
";
}
?>

Output:

This example uses a foreach loop to iterate over the `$fruits` array and print each element.

Loops are very useful for tasks where you need to repeat a block of code multiple times. Choosing the right type of loop depends on the situation and the type of iteration you need to perform.