What does "continue" mean in programming?

continue is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.

Definition

A keyword that skips the rest of the current loop iteration and jumps to the next one. Unlike break, continue does not exit the loop.

Example

"for (const n of numbers) { if (n < 0) continue; process(n); }"

Related terms

loop
break
for

Ready to practice your English at work?

Lingua-e has interactive exercises built around real developer conversations: standups, code reviews, retrospectives, and more. Practice until it comes naturally.

Try Lingua-e for free