How to print a name multiple times without loop statement using C language?

In C programming, printing a name multiple times typically requires loops. However, we can achieve this without using any loop or goto statement by implementing recursive functions or using multiple printf statements.

Syntax

void recursiveFunction(parameters) {
    // Base case
    if (condition)
        return;
    
    // Process
    printf("text");
    
    // Recursive call
    recursiveFunction(modified_parameters);
}

Method 1: Using Recursion

This approach uses a recursive function that calls itself until a base condition is met −

#include <stdio.h>

void printname(char* name, int count) {
    printf("%03d : %s<br>", count + 1, name);
    count += 1;
    if (count < 10)
        printname(name, count);
}

int main() {
    char name[50];
    printf("Enter your name: ");
    scanf("%s", name);
    printname(name, 0);
    return 0;
}

Enter your name: TutorialsPoint
001 : TutorialsPoint
002 : TutorialsPoint
003 : TutorialsPoint
004 : TutorialsPoint
005 : TutorialsPoint
006 : TutorialsPoint
007 : TutorialsPoint
008 : TutorialsPoint
009 : TutorialsPoint
010 : TutorialsPoint

Method 2: Using Multiple Print Statements

This approach manually writes multiple printf statements without any loop −

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    char name[50];
    printf("Enter your name: ");
    scanf("%s", name);
    
    printf("1. %s<br>", name);
    printf("2. %s<br>", name);
    printf("3. %s<br>", name);
    printf("4. %s<br>", name);
    printf("5. %s<br>", name);
    printf("6. %s<br>", name);
    printf("7. %s<br>", name);
    printf("8. %s<br>", name);
    printf("9. %s<br>", name);
    printf("10. %s<br>", name);
    
    return 0;
}

Enter your name: John
1. John
2. John
3. John
4. John
5. John
6. John
7. John
8. John
9. John
10. John

Comparison

Key Points

• Recursion replaces loops by calling the same function repeatedly with modified parameters.
• The base case in recursion prevents infinite calls (like loop termination condition).
• Multiple printf statements work for small, fixed repetitions but are impractical for large counts.

Conclusion

Recursion is the most practical method to print names multiple times without loops. It provides flexibility while maintaining clean, readable code compared to multiple print statements.