A loop that never ends is a(n) __ loop. a. infinite b. iterative c. structured d. illegal
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
a. infinite
Explanation (300 Words):
A loop that never ends is known as an infinite loop. This type of loop continues to execute its block of code endlessly unless it is externally interrupted or stopped by a break condition.
Loops are fundamental programming structures used to repeat a block of code multiple times. There are several types of loops—such as for, while, and do-while—but each of them requires a condition that determines whether the loop should continue running.
An infinite loop occurs when this condition never becomes false, or when there is no condition at all to exit the loop. For example:
while True:
print("This will print forever")
In the above code, the condition True is always true, so the while loop will continue endlessly unless the user stops the program or a break statement is used inside the loop.
Infinite loops can be intentional or accidental:
- Intentional infinite loops are used in programs that must run continuously until a specific event occurs—like in operating systems, servers, or embedded systems.
- Accidental infinite loops usually happen due to programming errors, such as a wrong loop condition or forgetting to update a variable that should eventually make the condition false.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- b. Iterative – While all loops are iterative in nature (they repeat), not all iterative loops are infinite.
- c. Structured – Structured loops follow a logical sequence and include clear start, condition, and end; they can end.
- d. Illegal – Infinite loops are not illegal in programming; they are valid constructs and sometimes essential.
In summary, when a loop has no exit or stopping condition, it becomes an infinite loop, continuing execution without end unless forcefully terminated.