Introduction
Loops are essential for repetitive tasks in programming. In Go, the for
loop is used for iterating through elements, and the range
keyword simplifies working with slices, arrays, and maps. In this guide, we'll explore both loop structures with sample code and explanations.
The for Loop
The for
loop is a fundamental control structure in Go. It allows you to repeatedly execute a block of code as long as a condition is true. Here's an example:
package main
import "fmt"
func main() {
for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
fmt.Println("Iteration:", i)
}
}
In this code, the for
loop runs as long as the condition i < 5
is true. It prints the value of i
in each iteration.
The range Loop
The range
keyword simplifies iterating through elements in slices, arrays, and maps. Here's an example of using the range
loop with a slice:
package main
import "fmt"
func main() {
fruits := []string{"apple", "banana", "cherry"}
for index, fruit := range fruits {
fmt.Printf("Index: %d, Fruit: %s\n", index, fruit)
}
}
In this code, the range
loop iterates through the elements of the fruits
slice, providing both the index and the value in each iteration.
Infinite Loops
You can create an infinite loop using the for
loop. Be cautious when using infinite loops, as they can lead to your program running indefinitely. Here's an example:
package main
import "fmt"
func main() {
for {
fmt.Println("This is an infinite loop!")
}
}
An infinite loop runs continuously until interrupted manually.
Further Resources
To continue exploring loops in Go, consider these resources:
- Go Tour - Control Structures - An interactive online tutorial for learning Go control structures.
- Effective Go - Control Structures - Official Go documentation on control structures.