Go Language for Loop Examples

go lang for loop syntax

The basic syntax is:

for init; condition; post { 
  // run commands till condition is true
}

Infinite for loop syntax:

for {
   // I will run forever 
}

go lang for loop examples

The following golang program print welcome message five times using a for loop. Create a file called for.go:

// for.go : A simple for loop program written in golang 
package main

// get fmt package for Printf()
import "fmt"

// Our main()
func main() {
        // set a for loop
        for i := 1;  i<=5; i++ {
                fmt.Printf("Welcome %d times\n",i)
        }
}

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:
$ go run for.go
Sample outputs:

Welcome 1 times
Welcome 2 times
Welcome 3 times
Welcome 4 times
Welcome 5 times

Here is another example to print sum of all digits using a for loop:

// sum.go : golang for loop demo code 
package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
        sum := 0
        for i := 1;  i<=20; i++ {
                sum += i
        }
        fmt.Printf("Sum =  %d\n",sum)
}

Save and close the file. Run it as follows:
$ go run sum.go
Sample outputs:

Sum =  210

How do I use golang for as infinite loops?

Infinite for loop can be created with empty expressions, such as:

// forver-in-love.go : an infinite loop example 
package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
    for {
        fmt.Println("I am in love with the Terminal (hit Ctrl+C to stop)")
    }
}

In this example, read an integer (number) from keyboard and display message on screen:

// for2.go : A modified version of for.go. This program use Scan() to read input from user
package main

import "fmt" 
       
func main() {
	y := 0 
        // Get number from user 
	fmt.Printf("Enter a number : ")
	fmt.Scan(&y)

	for i := 1;  i<=y; i++ {	
		fmt.Printf("Welcome %d times.\n",i)
	}
}

Sample outputs:

$ go run for2.go
Enter a number : 3
Welcome 1 times.
Welcome 2 times.
Welcome 3 times.

How do I terminate a for loop using break keyword?

You need to use the break keyword and the syntax is as follows:

for .... {
   if  condition  { break }
}

In this example, break out of for loop when i is 5:

// 
// forbreakdemo.go : Terminate a loop using break keyword 
//
package main
// get fmt package for Printf()
import "fmt"
// Our main()
func main() {
        // set a for loop
        for i := 1;  i<=10; i++ {
                //break out of for loop when i greater than 5 
		if i > 5 { break }
                fmt.Printf("Welcome %d times\n",i)
        }
	fmt.Printf("Out of for loop...\n")
}

How do I go to the beginning of the for loop?

You need to use the continue keyword and the syntax is as follows:

for ... {
    statement_1
    if condition { continue }
    statement_2
}

In this example, print message only if i is not 5:

// forcontinuedemo.go : The continue keyword demo
package main
// get fmt package for Printf()
import "fmt"
// Our main()
func main() {
        // set a for loop
        for i := 1;  i<=10; i++ {
		// only print welcome message if i is not 5
		if i != 5 { continue }
                fmt.Printf("Welcome %d times\n",i)
        }
	fmt.Printf("Outof for loop...\n")
}