PL/SQL - Basic Loop Statement

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Basic loop structure encloses sequence of statements in between the LOOP and END LOOP statements. With each iteration, the sequence of statements is executed and then control resumes at the top of the loop.

Syntax

The syntax of a basic loop in PL/SQL programming language is −

LOOP 
   Sequence of statements; 
END LOOP; 

Here, the sequence of statement(s) may be a single statement or a block of statements. An EXIT statement or an EXIT WHEN statement is required to break the loop.

Example

DECLARE 
   x number := 10; 
BEGIN 
   LOOP 
      dbms_output.put_line(x); 
      x := x + 10; 
      IF x > 50 THEN 
         exit; 
      END IF; 
   END LOOP; 
   -- after exit, control resumes here  
   dbms_output.put_line('After Exit x is: ' || x); 
END; 
/

When the above code is executed at the SQL prompt, it produces the following result −

10 
20 
30 
40 
50 
After Exit x is: 60  

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed. 

You can use the EXIT WHEN statement instead of the EXIT statement −

DECLARE 
   x number := 10; 
BEGIN 
   LOOP 
      dbms_output.put_line(x); 
      x := x + 10; 
      exit WHEN x > 50; 
   END LOOP; 
   -- after exit, control resumes here 
   dbms_output.put_line('After Exit x is: ' || x); 
END; 
/

When the above code is executed at the SQL prompt, it produces the following result −

10 
20 
30 
40  
50 
After Exit x is: 60  

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.