GNU Info

(gawk.info)Statements

---

Next: Built-in Variables Prev: Action Overview Up: Patterns and Actions

---

Enter node , (file) or (file)node

Control Statements in Actions
=============================

   "Control statements", such as `if', `while', and so on, control the
flow of execution in `awk' programs.  Most of the control statements in
`awk' are patterned on similar statements in C.

   All the control statements start with special keywords, such as `if'
and `while', to distinguish them from simple expressions.  Many control
statements contain other statements.  For example, the `if' statement
contains another statement that may or may not be executed.  The
contained statement is called the "body".  To include more than one
statement in the body, group them into a single "compound statement"
with curly braces, separating them with newlines or semicolons.

If Statement

Conditionally execute some `awk'

statements.

While Statement

Loop until some condition is satisfied.

Do Statement

Do specified action while looping until some

condition is satisfied.

For Statement

Another looping statement, that provides

initialization and increment clauses.

Break Statement

Immediately exit the innermost enclosing loop.

Continue Statement

Skip to the end of the innermost enclosing

loop.

Next Statement

Stop processing the current input record.

Nextfile Statement

Stop processing the current file.

Exit Statement

Stop execution of `awk'.