A good answer might be:

typedescription
counting loop

Uses a loop control variable to count upwards or downwards (usually by an integer increment.)

sentinel-controlled loop

Loop keeps going until a special value is encountered in the data.

result-controlled loop

Loop keeps going until a test determines that the desired result has been achieved.


Fundamental Loops

Each type of loop can be built using the while and other statements. The loops are built out of several fundamental statements because there are three things (in each of the three types of loops) that must be done correctly:

  1. The loop must be initialized correctly.
  2. The ending condition must be tested correcly.
  3. The body of the loop must change the condition that is tested.

Overlooking one of these aspects results in a defective loop and a sometimes difficult to find program bug! Usually each of these three considerations is located in a different spot. No wonder that loops often go wrong!

The flow chart to the right shows what all loops must do. It could be for any of the three types of loops. The ellipses (. . . .) shows where the loop body does additional computation.


 

QUESTION 2:

Would it be convenient to have all three aspects combined into one statement?