Swift Academy · Lesson

Breaking Out of Nested Loops

Use labels to escape multiple loop levels.

Breaking Out of Nested Loops is a free Swift Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Swift Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

The Nested Loop Problem

A plain break inside a nested loop exits only the inner loop, leaving the outer loop running.

for i in 1...3 {
    for j in 1...3 {
        if j == 2 { break }
        print(i, j)
    }
}

Labeled break Solves It

Attach a label to the outer loop and use break outer to exit both loops at once.

outer: for i in 1...3 {
    for j in 1...3 {
        if i == 2 && j == 2 { break outer }
        print(i, j)
    }
}
print("escaped")

Searching a 2D Grid

Labeled break is perfect for stopping a 2D search as soon as the target is found.

let grid = [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]]
var position = (-1, -1)
find: for r in 0..<grid.count {
    for c in 0..<grid[r].count {
        if grid[r][c] == 5 {
            position = (r, c)
            break find
        }
    }
}
print(position)

Without Labels: a Flag

An alternative without labels uses a boolean flag, but it is more verbose and error-prone.

var stop = false
for i in 1...3 {
    for j in 1...3 {
        if i + j == 4 { stop = true; break }
        print(i, j)
    }
    if stop { break }
}

Labels Are Cleaner

Compared to flags, labeled break expresses the intent directly and avoids extra checks after the inner loop.

outer: for i in 1...3 {
    for j in 1...3 {
        if i + j == 4 { break outer }
        print(i, j)
    }
}

Triple Nesting

Labels scale to three or more levels; target whichever loop you need to exit.

top: for a in 1...2 {
    for b in 1...2 {
        for c in 1...2 {
            if c == 2 { break top }
            print(a, b, c)
        }
    }
}

Labeled continue in Nesting

Use continue label to skip to the next iteration of an outer loop from deep inside.

rows: for r in 1...3 {
    for c in 1...3 {
        if c == 2 { continue rows }
        print(r, c)
    }
}

Combining Both

You can mix labeled break and continue in the same nested structure for fine control.

scan: for i in 1...3 {
    for j in 1...3 {
        if j == 1 { continue }
        if i == 3 { break scan }
        print(i, j)
    }
}

Early Exit Performance

Breaking out as soon as the answer is found avoids wasted iterations on large data sets.

let data = Array(1...100)
var firstBig = -1
loop: for chunk in stride(from: 0, to: data.count, by: 10) {
    for k in chunk..<min(chunk + 10, data.count) {
        if data[k] > 25 {
            firstBig = data[k]
            break loop
        }
    }
}
print(firstBig)

Returning From a Function

Inside a function, return is another clean way to exit all loops at once.

func findPair(_ target: Int) -> (Int, Int)? {
    for i in 1...5 {
        for j in 1...5 {
            if i * j == target { return (i, j) }
        }
    }
    return nil
}
print(findPair(12) ?? (-1, -1))

Choosing an Approach

Prefer labeled break for exiting nested loops in place, or return when you are inside a function and want to leave entirely.

outer: for x in 1...3 {
    for y in 1...3 {
        if x * y >= 4 { break outer }
        print(x, y)
    }
}

Quick Check

Test nested-loop control.

Recap

A plain break exits only the innermost loop. Label the outer loop and use break label to escape all levels at once, which is cleaner than a boolean flag. Inside a function, return also exits everything.

outer: for i in 1...3 {
    for j in 1...3 {
        if j == 2 { break outer }
        print(i, j)
    }
}

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Breaking Out of Nested Loops” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Breaking Out of Nested Loops” is free to read here on the web, and the Swift Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Swift Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “Breaking Out of Nested Loops”?

Use labels to escape multiple loop levels. You practise Swift Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start Swift Academy?

No prior experience is required. Swift Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Breaking Out of Nested Loops” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this Swift Academy lesson?

Yes. Every Swift Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

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