Kotlin Do While Loop

Introduction

In programming, we often need to execute a block of code multiple times. Loops are control flow structures designed specifically for this purpose. The do-while loop is a variant of the while loop in Kotlin that guarantees the execution of a code block at least once before checking the condition for subsequent iterations.

Unlike a standard while loop that evaluates the condition before entering the loop, a do-while loop evaluates the condition after executing the loop body for the first time. This key difference makes do-while loops particularly useful when you need to ensure that a block of code runs at least once, regardless of the condition.

Basic Syntax

Here's the basic syntax of a do-while loop in Kotlin:

do {
    // Code to be executed
} while (condition)

The loop works as follows:

1. The code inside the do block executes first
2. Then the condition is evaluated
3. If the condition is true, the loop continues and the code inside the do block executes again
4. If the condition is false, the loop terminates

Simple Do-While Loop Example

Let's start with a basic example that prints numbers from 1 to 5:

fun main() {
    var i = 1
    
    do {
        println("Number: $i")
        i++
    } while (i <= 5)
}

Output:

Number: 1
Number: 2
Number: 3
Number: 4
Number: 5

In this example:

• We initialize a variable i with the value 1
• Inside the do-while loop, we print the current value of i and then increment it
• The loop continues as long as i is less than or equal to 5

Do-While vs. While Loop

To understand the unique characteristic of do-while loops, let's compare it with a regular while loop:

fun main() {
    println("Using while loop:")
    var i = 6
    
    while (i <= 5) {
        println("Number: $i")
        i++
    }
    
    println("\nUsing do-while loop:")
    i = 6
    
    do {
        println("Number: $i")
        i++
    } while (i <= 5)
}

Output:

Using while loop:

Using do-while loop:
Number: 6

Notice the difference:

• The while loop body doesn't execute at all because the condition is false from the start
• The do-while loop executes once before checking the condition, so it prints "Number: 6"

Practical Examples

Example 1: Input Validation

One common real-world use case for do-while loops is input validation, where you want to ensure that the user provides valid input:

fun main() {
    var userInput: Int
    
    do {
        print("Please enter a positive number: ")
        userInput = readLine()?.toIntOrNull() ?: -1
        
        if (userInput <= 0) {
            println("That's not a positive number. Try again.")
        }
    } while (userInput <= 0)
    
    println("Thank you! You entered: $userInput")
}

In this example:

• We keep asking the user for input until they provide a positive number
• The loop guarantees that we ask for input at least once
• We only exit the loop when valid input is provided

Example 2: Menu-Driven Program

Another practical application is creating menu-driven console applications:

fun main() {
    var choice: Int
    
    do {
        println("\n--- Calculator Menu ---")
        println("1. Add two numbers")
        println("2. Subtract two numbers")
        println("3. Multiply two numbers")
        println("4. Divide two numbers")
        println("5. Exit")
        print("Enter your choice (1-5): ")
        
        choice = readLine()?.toIntOrNull() ?: 0
        
        when (choice) {
            1 -> performAddition()
            2 -> performSubtraction()
            3 -> performMultiplication()
            4 -> performDivision()
            5 -> println("Exiting calculator...")
            else -> println("Invalid choice. Please try again.")
        }
    } while (choice != 5)
}

fun performAddition() {
    print("Enter first number: ")
    val num1 = readLine()?.toDoubleOrNull() ?: 0.0
    print("Enter second number: ")
    val num2 = readLine()?.toDoubleOrNull() ?: 0.0
    println("Result: ${num1 + num2}")
}

// Similar functions for other operations
fun performSubtraction() {
    // Implementation omitted for brevity
    println("Subtraction selected")
}

fun performMultiplication() {
    // Implementation omitted for brevity
    println("Multiplication selected")
}

fun performDivision() {
    // Implementation omitted for brevity
    println("Division selected")
}

This example demonstrates a menu-driven calculator where:

• The menu is displayed at least once
• The program continues to show the menu until the user chooses to exit
• The do-while loop creates a continuous interaction cycle

Example 3: Retry Mechanism

Do-while loops are excellent for implementing retry mechanisms:

fun main() {
    val maxAttempts = 3
    var currentAttempt = 0
    var success = false
    
    do {
        currentAttempt++
        println("Attempt $currentAttempt of $maxAttempts")
        
        // Simulate an operation that might fail
        val randomValue = (1..10).random()
        success = randomValue > 7
        
        if (success) {
            println("Operation succeeded!")
        } else {
            println("Operation failed. Random value was: $randomValue (needed > 7)")
            if (currentAttempt < maxAttempts) {
                println("Retrying...")
            } else {
                println("Maximum attempts reached. Giving up.")
            }
        }
    } while (!success && currentAttempt < maxAttempts)
}

This example shows how to implement a retry mechanism that:

• Makes at least one attempt
• Continues trying until either success is achieved or maximum attempts are reached

Common Pitfalls and Tips

1. Infinite Loops

Be careful not to create infinite loops:

// Potential infinite loop if you forget to increment i
do {
    println("This might run forever!")
    // Missing: i++
} while (i < 10)

Always ensure your loop has a way to terminate.

2. Loop Variables

It's a good practice to initialize loop control variables before the loop:

var counter = 1 // Good: Initialize before the loop
do {
    println("Counter: $counter")
    counter++
} while (counter <= 5)

3. Loop Condition Evaluation

Remember that in a do-while loop, the condition is evaluated after the loop body executes:

var x = 10
do {
    println("Value of x: $x")
    x -= 5
} while (x > 0)

Output:

Value of x: 10
Value of x: 5
Value of x: 0

Note that even though the condition checks for x > 0, we still see "Value of x: 0" in the output because the condition is checked after the loop body runs.

Summary

The do-while loop in Kotlin is a powerful control flow structure that guarantees at least one execution of a code block before checking the condition for subsequent iterations. This makes it particularly useful for:

• Input validation where you need to prompt at least once
• Menu-driven programs that should display at least once
• Retry mechanisms where you want to make at least one attempt
• Any scenario where you need to guarantee that a block of code runs at least once

Key points to remember:

• The loop body always executes at least once
• The condition is checked after each execution of the loop body
• If the condition is true, the loop continues; otherwise, it terminates
• Be careful to avoid infinite loops by ensuring the loop condition can eventually become false

Exercises for Practice

1. Write a program that uses a do-while loop to sum numbers entered by the user until they enter 0.
2. Create a simple guessing game where the program generates a random number and the user has to guess it. Use a do-while loop to keep prompting the user until they guess correctly.
3. Implement a password validation system that requires users to enter a password that meets certain criteria (e.g., minimum length, contains a digit, etc.). Use a do-while loop to keep asking until a valid password is provided.
4. Create a simple ATM interface using a do-while loop that presents options to the user until they choose to exit.

Additional Resources

• Kotlin Official Documentation on Control Flow
• Kotlin Playground - Practice your do-while loops online
• Programming in Kotlin by Venkat Subramaniam - A comprehensive book on Kotlin programming