Embracing the Unknown
Indefinite loops, on the other hand, are used when you don't know beforehand how many times you need to repeat a block of code. They keep running as long as a specific condition remains true. The most common type of indefinite loop is the `while` loop. It is constructed to say, "Hey, do this repeatedly while something is true!"
4. Decoding the `While` Loop
A `while` loop consists of two main parts:
First, the Condition: This is a statement that is evaluated before each iteration of the loop. If the condition is true, the loop continues. If it's false, the loop stops.
Second, the Code Block: This is the set of instructions that are executed repeatedly as long as the condition is true.
Think of it like this: you keep driving while you have gas in the tank. As soon as you run out of gas (condition becomes false), you stop driving.
Now, a crucial point: you must make sure that the condition eventually becomes false, otherwise, you'll end up with an infinite loop — a program that runs forever! (Not ideal, unless you're trying to heat your house with your CPU, which I don't recommend).
5. When to Wield the `While` Loop?
`While` loops shine when you need to repeat something until a certain event happens, or until some condition changes. For instance, you might use a `while` loop to read data from a file until you reach the end of the file. Or, you might use it to repeatedly prompt the user for input until they enter a valid response.
Imagine you are prompting a user for valid login details. If the user does not enter valid credentials, you will want to prompt them to enter it again. You may need to repeat this unknown amount of times until they enter correct details. Therefore, a `while` loop would be very useful in this case.
Essentially, you would want to use this when you are repeating a process while a particular condition is true.
Remember, be mindful of the potential for infinite loops. Always double-check that your condition will eventually become false!
