Repeatcondition

Repeatcondition is a term used in programming to describe the boolean expression that determines whether a looping construct should execute another iteration. In a post-test loop, the repeat condition is evaluated after the loop body completes, which guarantees that the body runs at least once. In a pre-test loop, the condition is checked before each iteration and is not typically called a repeatcondition, but it serves the same role in controlling repetition.

Common forms include post-test loops such as do-while or repeat-until constructs. In a do-while loop, the loop continues while the condition is true. In a repeat-until loop, the loop repeats until the condition becomes true. The exact syntax varies by language, but the underlying idea is to decide at the end (or beginning, depending on design) whether to repeat the work.

Uses of repeatcondition include input validation loops, retry logic, and data processing tasks where the process should continue until a goal is satisfied or an acceptable state is reached. It is especially common in scenarios that require at least one execution of the loop body, followed by a conditional check.

Common considerations include avoiding side effects in the condition, ensuring that the condition will eventually become true or be provably unreachable to prevent infinite loops, and clearly documenting the expected termination criteria. Terminology can vary, and many languages simply refer to the loop’s condition rather than using the term repeatcondition.

See also: loop, do-while, while loop, repeat-until.