Last updated: August 27, 2026.
PHP provides several loop structures. Use foreach for arrays and iterables, for for counters, and while when repetition depends on a condition.
foreach for arrays
<?php
$prices = ['book' => 18.50, 'pen' => 2.25, 'notebook' => 6.75];
foreach ($prices as $item => $price) {
echo htmlspecialchars($item) . ': $' . number_format($price, 2) . PHP_EOL;
}
?>for with a counter
<?php
for ($page = 1; $page <= 5; $page++) {
echo "Processing page {$page}" . PHP_EOL;
}
?>while and do-while
<?php
$attempts = 0;
while ($attempts < 3) {
$attempts++;
echo "Attempt {$attempts}" . PHP_EOL;
}
do {
$value = random_int(1, 6);
} while ($value !== 6);
?>Control loop execution
<?php
foreach ([5, -2, 8, 0, 12] as $value) {
if ($value < 0) {
continue;
}
if ($value === 0) {
break;
}
echo $value . PHP_EOL;
}
?>Use continue to skip an iteration and break to exit the current loop. See the PHP manual’s foreach and for references.
