How do I break multiple foreach loops? [duplicate]

Answer 1

Use a label on the outermost loop, and include this label in the break statement when you want to jump out of all the loops. In the example below, I've modified your code to use the label OUTERMOST:

String valueFromObj2 = null;
String valueFromObj4 = null;
OUTERMOST: for(Object1 object1: objects){
  for(Object2 object2: object1){
    //I get some value from object2
    valueFromObj2 = object2.getSomeValue();
    for(Object3 object3 : object2){
      for(Object4 object4: object3){
        //Finally I get some value from Object4.
        valueFromObj4 = object4.getSomeValue();
        //Compare with valueFromObj2 to decide either to break all the foreach loop
        if( compareTwoVariable(valueFromObj2, valueFromObj4 )) {
          break OUTERMOST;
        }
      }//fourth loop ends here
    }//third loop ends here
  }//second loop ends here
}//first loop ends here

Answer 2

See the Branching Statements Java Tutorial for the easiest way, using a label. You can label any or all of the for loops, then use break or continue in conjunction with those labels.

An alternative to using labels is to use return instead. Just refactor your code into a method call to bypass the need to use labels at all.

Answer 3

The straightforward solution is to put the entire search process in a method and return as soon as you have an answer.

However, the abstract form of your sample code leaves some other possibilities in question. For instance, is there a way to "index" some of the content (e.g. using Map instances) so that you don't have to use brute-force loops?