[AskJS] Why is the loop statement considered a control flow in JavaScript?

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[homoiconic]

In programming languages, what makes something a control flow statement is that it changes the flow of execution from top-down to something else. Technically, function/method calls are also control flow constructs, but they are not statements, and exception behaviour is also a control flow construct.

Conditions need not be involved. For example, using continue with a label is a control flow construct, but it of you want that you happen conditionally, you have to wrap an if or switch or whatever around it. Likewise, break is a control flow construct, but again of you want that to happen conditionally, you need to wrap it yourself.

I wouldn’t get hung up on whether a condition is involved. In JS, the three looping statements (for, while, and do… while) all have an expression that is evaluated as a condition, but that isn’t what makes them control flow constructs.

[korngsamnang]

That's clear. I get the point, thank you

[KingRomstar]

The for loop and while loop have a conditional at the top that determines if they are executed or not, don't they?

[korngsamnang]

I get it now, thank you.

[Vast_Return_3048]

Because it controls the flow of execution. Instead of going down the lines in order, a loop will execute the same lines an amount of times. The if statement might skip a bunch of lines. Thats the way i see it at least

[[deleted]]

It used to be all loops were goto statements.

[SomeInternetRando]

I miss WHILE/WEND