break ends a loop right away, even if the loop condition is still true.
index.php
PHP
<?php
for ($i = 1; $i <= 10; $i++) {
if ($i === 4) {
break;
}
echo $i . " ";
}
echo "\nStopped at $i";
Output
OUTPUT
1 2 3
Stopped at 4When $i reached 4, break jumped out of the loop. The code after the loop continues normally.
Find the first match
break is perfect for searching. Once you find what you need, there is no reason to keep looking.
index.php
PHP
<?php
$users = ["Asha", "Ben", "Chitra", "Dev"];
$found = null;
foreach ($users as $user) {
if (str_starts_with($user, "C")) {
$found = $user;
break;
}
}
echo $found ?? "Nobody found";
Output
OUTPUT
Chitrabreak in a while loop
index.php
PHP
<?php
$total = 0;
while (true) {
$total += 25;
if ($total >= 100) {
break;
}
}
echo $total;
Output
OUTPUT
100while (true) loops forever, so the only way out is break (or return). This is a valid pattern when the stop condition is easier to write in the middle of the loop.
Breaking out of nested loops
By default, break leaves only the loop it is in. Give it a number to leave more levels.
index.php
PHP
<?php
for ($row = 1; $row <= 3; $row++) {
for ($col = 1; $col <= 3; $col++) {
if ($row * $col === 4) {
echo "Found at row $row, column $col";
break 2; // leave both loops
}
}
}
Output
OUTPUT
Found at row 2, column 2Inside a switch
break is also how switch cases end. A break inside a switch that sits in a loop only leaves the switch, not the loop.
Alternatives
In a function, return ends the loop and the function in one go. That is often cleaner than break.
index.php
PHP
<?php
function firstEven(array $numbers): ?int
{
foreach ($numbers as $n) {
if ($n % 2 === 0) {
return $n;
}
}
return null;
}
echo firstEven([3, 7, 8, 10]);
Output
OUTPUT
8
lightbulb
Prefer return in functions
If the loop is inside a function and you are looking for a result,
return it as soon as you have it.