Mastering the for Loop in C# (.NET 10): Examples and Best Practices

In today's article I will show you how you can use for loop in c# (.NET 10) with practical example and best practices. Here we will learn hands on example of for loop in C# 14/.Net 10. When to use for vs foreach different index access and control flow with continue or break. 

Syntax

C#.Net

for (initializer; condition; iterator)
{
    Body
}

VB.Net

For initializer  = condition
    Body
Next 

Examples

Simple numeric for loop

C#.Net

for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Index: {i}");
} 

VB.Net

For i = 0 To 4
    Console.WriteLine($"Index: {i}")
Next 

In above code I have displayed the index value with the help of for loop. Here I have defined a variable and assign a value. After that condition have been applied that when loop will break. 

Access an array with index access

C#.Net

int[] numbers = { 10, 20, 30, 40 };
for (int i = 0; i < numbers.Length; i++)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"numbers[{i}] = {numbers[i]}");
}

VB.Net

Dim numbers = {10, 20, 30, 40}
For i = 0 To numbers.Length - 1
    Console.WriteLine($"numbers[{i}] = {numbers(i)}")
Next 

In above code I have declared an array and added some values. Now used for loop to get the array value by using index.

Accessing a List<EmployeeDetail> using for

C#.Net

var employees = new List<EmployeeDetail>
{
    new EmployeeDetail { EmpId = 1, EmpName = "Emp 1", Project = "P1" },
    new EmployeeDetail { EmpId = 2, EmpName = "Emp 2",   Project = "P2" },
    new EmployeeDetail { EmpId = 3, EmpName = "Emp 3", Project = "P3" }
};

for (int i = 0; i < employees.Count; i++)
{
    var e = employees[i];
    Console.WriteLine($"{i}: {e.EmpId} - {e.EmpName} ({e.Project})");
} 

VB.Net

Dim employees = New List(Of EmployeeDetail) From {
New EmployeeDetail With {.EmpId = 1,.EmpName = "Emp 1",.Project = "P1"},
New EmployeeDetail With {.EmpId = 2,.EmpName = "Emp 2",.Project = "P2"},
New EmployeeDetail With {.EmpId = 3,.EmpName = "Emp 3",.Project = "P3"}}

For i = 0 To employees.Count - 1
Dim e = employees(i)
  Console.WriteLine($"{i}: {e.EmpId} - {e.EmpName} ({e.Project})")
Next
End Sub 

In above code I have taken a class of employee and in this I have added employee detail. With the help of for loop I have displayed the employee detail.

Using continue and break

C#.Net

for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
    if (i % 2 == 0) continue;    // skip even numbers
    if (i > 7) break;            // stop when greater than 7
    Console.WriteLine($"odd: {i}");
} 

VB.Net

For i = 0 To 9
    If i Mod 2 = 0 Then Continue For    ' skip even numbers
    If i > 7 Then Exit For            ' stop when greater than 7
    Console.WriteLine($"odd: {i}")
Next 

In above code i have explained how you can use continue and break in for loop. Here we are displaying the odd value and use break is if it is an even value.