Sabin Sim

Posted on Feb 17

19. C# (while Loop)

#csharp #programming #learning #career

0. The Real Goal of This Lesson

A while loop is
a mechanism that sends execution flow back upward as long as a condition remains true.

If you do not understand this:

Infinite loops happen
Condition logic breaks
CPU usage spikes to 100%

And your program loses control.

This is not about syntax.

It is about controlling repetition safely.

1. Start with the Structure

while (condition)
{
    // repeated code
}

In plain language:

“As long as the condition is true,
execute this block repeatedly.”

The condition is the gatekeeper.

2. A Simple Example (You Must Run This Yourself)

using System;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        int number = 0;

        while (number < 10)
        {
            number++;
            Console.WriteLine($"Number is {number}");
        }

        Console.WriteLine("Loop finished.");
        Console.ReadKey();
    }
}

Run it.

Do not just read it.

3. Track the Execution Flow Precisely

Initial state:

number = 0

First Condition Check

while (number < 10)

0 < 10 → true

→ Enter loop.

Inside the Loop

number++;   // number becomes 1
Console.WriteLine("Number is 1");

Flow Returns Upward

Condition is checked again:

1 < 10 → true

→ Execute again.

This continues.

Execution is not moving forward only.

It is cycling.

4. Understand the Exact Termination Moment

When number becomes 9:

9 < 10 → true

Enter loop
number++ → 10 is printed.

Now check again:

10 < 10 → false

The loop stops.

Execution continues below the loop.

Loop finished.

That exact moment defines control.

5. The Core Structure of while

A while loop always behaves like this:

[Check condition]
      ↓ true
[Execute block]
      ↓
[Check condition]
      ↓ false
[Exit loop]

Important:

The condition is checked before entering the block.

This is called a pre-check loop.

It may execute zero times.

6. The Critical Danger — Infinite Loops

Consider this code:

int number = 0;

while (number < 10)
{
    Console.WriteLine(number);
}

What is missing?

There is no state change.

number never increases.

Result:

number = 0
0 < 10 → true
Print 0
Check again → still 0 < 10
Print 0
Repeat forever

This creates an infinite loop.

The CPU keeps executing.

The program never exits.

7. The Structural Model (Think in Components)

You prefer structured thinking.

So break a while loop into three required components:

Component	Purpose
Condition	Defines when to continue
State variable	Value used inside condition
State change	Modifies the variable so condition eventually becomes false

All three must exist.

Condition
State variable
State change

If one is missing:

Infinite loop
Immediate termination
Logical inconsistency

This is not optional.

It is structural.

8. Understanding Through Debugging (Rider)

To truly understand:

Place a breakpoint on the while line
Use Step Into (F11)
Observe the value of the state variable

Watch:

When the condition is evaluated
When the state changes
When the loop exits

Flow becomes visible.

And once visible, it becomes predictable.

9. Why while Matters in Real Applications

In a TODO or Calculator app:

Requirement:

If input is invalid, ask again.

Structurally:

Input
Validate
If invalid → ask again

Which becomes:

while (inputIsInvalid)
{
    AskAgain();
}

This is not just repetition.

It is controlled validation flow.

10. One-Line Summary

A while loop sends execution flow back upward
as long as its condition remains true,
and it must contain logic that eventually makes that condition false.

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