What Is Powering Your Netflix Binges? (Hint: Loops) ??

Ever found yourself in one of those endless Netflix binges, automatically moving to the “Next Episode”??

If you have, congratulations! You’ve lived through a real-life programming loop. (For those who haven’t, applauding your self-restraint) ??

Yes, the programming concept of loops is like that series you can’t stop watching. The moment you think it is over, you are in for another iteration (halfheartedly saying- for the love of God, can someone make it stop!). Loops are the ultimate binge mode for blocks of code.?

What Exactly Is On The Loop? ??

In technical terms, a loop allows a set of instructions to run multiple times until a condition is met. It keeps things efficient and saves you from writing hundreds of repetitive lines of code.

OTT platforms repeat the same sequence of events, so you can move from one episode to another without lifting a finger. Similarly, with loops in programming, instead of writing code for every single step, the computer handles the repetition, keeping things efficient (and binge-worthy!).

How Many Loops Can You Get Trapped In?

1. For Loop – The Episode Marathoner ??

A for loop is like sitting down to binge-watch an entire season of your favourite show, knowing exactly where it begins and how many episodes you’re in for.?

• You set up your snacks, press play, and the marathon begins (loop initialisation). ??
• You know there are 10 episodes? (loop condition).
• And you are committed to finishing them from 1 to 10 (updation condition- increment/ decrement).

This is what it looks like:

for (int episode = 1; episode <= 10; episode++) {
    watchEpisode();
}        

You begin with episode 1 (initial), knowing that it will run till episode 10 (condition for termination), and the show continues in a sequence of episodes (increment).

2. While Loop – The Cliffhanger Binge ??

The while loop is the equivalent of binge-watching a show, where every episode ends on a massive cliffhanger. You tell yourself, 'I’ll stop watching after this one… But what happens next?'?

Naturally, you keep watching until the plot gives you closure. ??

• The loop keeps running while you're hooked on the storyline.?
• As long as the show keeps dropping cliffhangers (the condition is met), you keep watching.?
• The moment you’re satisfied/ exhausted (the condition becomes false), the loop ends.?

This is what it looks like:

while (notSatisfied) {
    watchNextEpisode();
}        

Beware—Unlike the for loop, there is no clear stopping condition. You might end up bingeing until dawn! ?? ?? ??

3. Do-While Loop – The 'One More Episode' Trap ??

A do-while loop is like when OTT apps automatically play the next episode, and you think, 'Okay, just one more.' You do first and think later.

Even if you’re ready to quit, you do end up playing the next episode at least once (always!) while you decide if you’re truly done.?

This is what it looks like:

do { watchNextEpisode(); } while (stillInterested);        

The loop checks if you are done only after you've started the next episode.

Why Do We Still Binge? (Benefits Of Loops In Codes)

Imagine having to manually hit 'Next Episode' for every episode you watch. Ew! Why do that, right????

With loops, you don’t have to. They automate that process, saving you from the repetitive task of pressing play. Similarly, in programming, you don’t have to write the code for a single task every time you want it done. Just define it inside a loop and forget about it.?

Want to learn about the for loop, while loop, do-while loops, and countless other technical topics in multiple languages? Head onto the Unstop Blog ??

Common Pitfalls With Loops (And How To Avoid Them)

1. Infinite Loops – The Endless Binge ??

Ever start a series and realise that you’ve been watching for hours, and it just won’t end? If we had a penny for every time we did this.???

That’s what happens when a loop runs infinitely.?

• It keeps going forever because the condition to stop is never met.?
• It's like when YouTube keeps playing videos on autoplay, even while you are hitting the Zzzs ??.
• And it won’t stop until you run out of battery, which externally halts the loop.

How to Avoid: Always make sure you’ve got a solid stopping point. Check your conditions carefully, or you’ll find yourself stuck in an infinite binge, unable to escape.

2. Off-by-One Errors – The Missing Episode ??

Ever skip an episode by accident and feel totally lost? This is just like when you miscalculate a loop by one iteration—either running it one time too many or too few and missing out on critical information.

How to Avoid: Pay close attention to your loop boundaries. If you're supposed to watch 10 episodes, make sure you set your loop to count from 1 to 10, not 0 to 9. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on the season finale! ??

Loop Like A Binge-Watch Pro ??

Loops are the code version of the auto-play feature on Netflix and other OTT platforms. Once you master them, you’ll never have to repeat yourself again. We mean the code, not the binges. Happy looping! ??

Run the Code:

#include <stdio.h>
int main(){
for (;;){
printf("Practice!");}
return 0;
}        

Output:

Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice!...........

Practice your coding skills with the 100-Day Coding Sprint ??

?? Want to explore the technical sides of various programming concepts? Visit the Unstop blog and enter a world of endless knowledge.?

?? This article was written by Shivani Goyal ; watch this space for more interesting reads.? #BeUnstoppable!