Break Any Outer Nested Loop by Referencing its Name in Java

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

A nested loop is a loop within a loop, an inner loop within the body of an outer one.

Working:

The first pass of the outer loop triggers the inner loop, which executes to completion.
Then the second pass of the outer loop triggers the inner loop again.
This repeats until the outer loop finishes.
A break within either the inner or outer loop would interrupt this process.

The Function of Nested loop :

Java

// Nested for loop import java.io.*; class GFG {  public static void main(String[] args)  {  for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {  for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) {  System.out.print("GFG! ");  }  System.out.println();  }  } }

Output

GFG! GFG! GFG! GFG! GFG! GFG! GFG! GFG! GFG!

Label the loops:

This is how we can label the name to the loop:

labelname :for(initialization;condition;incr/decr){ //code to be executed }

Java

// Naming the loop import java.io.*; class GFG {  public static void main(String[] args)  {  // Type the name outside the loop  outer:  for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {  System.out.println("GFG!");  }  } }

Output

GFG! GFG! GFG! GFG! GFG!

Rules to Label the loops:

Label of the loop must be unique to avoid confusion.
In the break statements use labels that are in scope. (Below is an implementation)

Java

// Break statements and naming the loops import java.lang.*; public class GFG {  public static void main(String[] args)  {  // Using Label for outer and for loop  outer:  for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {  // Using Label for inner and for loop  inner:  for (int j = 1; j <= 3; j++) {  if (j == 2) {  break inner;  }  System.out.println(i + " " + j);  }  if (i == 2) {  break outer;  }  }  } }