while-loop

noun

UK /ˈwaɪl luːp/

US /ˈwaɪl luːp/

A while-loop is a set of computer instructions that keeps repeating as long as a certain thing stays true.

The program uses a while-loop to keep asking for a password until the right one is typed.

SYNONYMS

loop iteration repetition conditional loop

RELATED WORDS

for-loop do-while loop condition iteration control flow

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A programming construct that checks its condition before each pass, so it may run zero times.

Because the list was empty, the while-loop never ran even once.

3. A loop whose exit depends on a test that changes inside the loop body.

If you forget to update the counter, the while-loop will run forever.

4. In some languages, a general term covering both pre-test and post-test loops.

The tutorial compares the while-loop with the do-while variant.