# Java: 'while' Statement

## Purpose

The purpose of the `while` statement is to repeat something many times.

## General Form

The `while` statement has this form:

       while (condition) {
          statements to repeat while the condition is true
       }

## Condition is `true` or `false`

The value of condition must be `true` or `false` (ie, a `boolean` value). It is often a comparison (see example below).

## Example: Loop continues while the condition is true

    public void paintComponent(Graphics g) {
        super.paintComponent(g);
        int count = 0;
        while (count < 50) {
           g.drawLine(20, count*5, 80, count*5);
           count = count + 1;
        }
        g.drawString("Loop is finished.  count="+count, 10, 300);
    }//end paintComponent

This repeats the drawLine() call 50 times. The first time the while condition is tested, it is `true` because the value of `count` is 0, which is less than 50. After the statements in the body are done, the while loop comes back to the top of the loop and makes the test again. Each time the value of `count` is larger. Finally, `count` is 50, and the value of the condition will be false.

When the loop stops, the program continues with the statement after the end of the loop (the drawLine() call). This will display the string "`Loop is finished. count=50`".