Exiting Nested Loops in Java

Breaking Out of Nested Loops in Java

Java doesn't offer a single statement to break out of multiple nested loops. The best approach uses labeled break statements.

Method: Label the outer loop and use a labeled break to exit.

outerloop:
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
    for (int j = 0; j < 10; j++) {
        if (i == 5 && j == 5) {
            break outerloop; // Breaks out of both loops
        }
        System.out.println("i = " + i + ", j = " + j);
    }
}

Alternative (for specific conditions): Refactor to use boolean flags or exceptions for cleaner, albeit less direct, exits. Exceptions should only be used for exceptional circumstances.

boolean breakOuter = false;
for (int i = 0; i < 10 && !breakOuter; i++) {
    for (int j = 0; j < 10; j++) {
        if (i == 5 && j == 5) {
            breakOuter = true;
            break; // Breaks inner loop
        }
        // ...code...
    }
}

Spring Boot Context: The techniques remain the same within a Spring Boot application. Labeled break offers the most direct solution for nested loop control. Choose the method aligning best with code readability and complexity. Avoid overly complex nested loops—refactoring often improves maintainability.