The loop does not execute, even once. This is because the condition of the while statement,
count <= limit
is false the first time. The statement following the loop,
System.out.println( "Done with the loop" );
does execute.
All the while
loops in this chapter look about like this:
int count = 0; int limit = 5; while ( count < limit ) { System.out.println( "count is:" + count ); count = count + 1; } System.out.println( "Done with the loop" );
The variable count
is the one that is initialized, tested, and
changed as the loop executes.
It is an ordinary int
variable, but it is used in a special role.
The role is that of a loop control variable.
Not all loops have loop control variables, however.
The type of loop we have been looking at is a counting loop,
since it counts upwards using the loop control variable as a counter.
You can make counting loops with statements other than the while
statement, and not all while
loops are counting loops.
Do you think that a counting loop will always count upwards by ones?