How to get the exit status a loop in bash

Question

I know how to check the status of the previously executed command using $?, and we can make that status using exit command. But for the loops in bash are always returning a

Answer 1

I would like to submit an alternative solution which is simpler and I think more elegant:

(while true
 do
    if [ -f "test" ] ; then
        break
    fi  
 done

Of course of this is part of a script then you could user return 1 instead of exit 1
 exit 1
)
echo "Exit status is: $?"