Zerowhile

Zerowhile is a term found in programming discussions rather than a formal language feature with a single, official definition. It is typically used informally to describe patterns or concepts related to while-loops that result in zero iterations, either by design or by compiler optimization. Because zerowhile is not standardized, its meaning can vary across contexts.

In common usage, zerowhile refers to a situation where a while-loop is guaranteed not to run at all. This can occur when the loop condition is known to be false at compile time or at the point of loop entry, such as while (false) { … } or while (0) { … }. In such cases the loop body is effectively dead code, and optimizers or static analyzers may remove the loop entirely. The term can also appear in discussions about code generation or templating, where a macro or template expands to a zero-iteration loop under certain conditions.

A related distinction is between zero iterations and the behavior of a do-while loop. A zerowhile scenario equates to zero iterations for a standard while loop, whereas a do-while loop would still execute the body at least once regardless of a false condition.

Origin and usage notes: zerowhile is not a formal construct in any widely adopted language specification. It appears mainly in informal articles, educational materials, code golf, and discussions about loop optimization and dead code elimination. When encountered, it is important to consult the specific language or tool documentation to understand the intended semantics in that context.

See also: while loop, do-while loop, for loop, dead code, loop optimization, constant folding.