Java Loops Best Practices

Loops provide efficient way for repeating a piece of code as many times as required. Java has three types of loop control structures they are : for loop, while loop and do-while loop. The for loop is used when we know in advance how many iterations are required. The while loop is used when we do not know in advance the number of iterations required so each time before entering the loop the condition is checked and if it is true then the loop is executed. The do-while loop is always executed at least once and then the condition is checked at the end of the loop. Loops have a considerable effect on the performance of the program let us look at some points that focus on optimizing while using the loop control structures.

Optimization techinques in loops

• Always use an int data type as the loop index variable whenever possible because it is efficient when compared to using byte or short data types. because when we use byte or short data type as the loop index variable they involve implicit type cast to int data type.
• When using arrays it is always efficient to copy arrays using System.arraycopy() than using a loop. The following example shows the difference

• Always avoid anything that can be done outside of the loop like method calls, assigning values to variables, or testing for conditions .
• Method calls are very costly and you only make it worse by putting them in a loop. So as far as possible avoid method calls in a loop.
• It is better to avoid accessing array elements in a loop the better option would be to use a temporary variables inside the loop and modify the array values out of the loop. It is fast to use a variable in a loop than accessing an array element.
• Try to compare the terminating condition with zero if you use non-JIT or HotSpot virtual machine, here is an example to prove the point. JIT or HotSpot virtual machines are optimized for general loops so you do not have to bother about the terminating condition.

• Avoid using method calls in loops for termination condition this is costly instead use a temporary variable and test the loop termination with the temporary variable.
• When using short circuit operators to test for loop termination tests always put the expression that will most likely evaluate to false at extreme left.This saves all the following expressions from being tested in case there is an && operator and if there are only || operators then put the expression which is most likely to evaluate to true in the extreme left.
• Avoid using try-catch inside the loops instead place the loops inside the try-catch for better performance

Key Points

1. Use integer as loop index variable.
2. Use System.arraycopy() to copy arrays.
3. Avoid method calls in loops .
4. It is efficient to access variables in a loop when compared to accessing array elements.
5. Compare the termination condition in a loop with zero if you use non-JIT or HotSpot VMs.
6. Avoid using method calls to check for termination condition in a loop
7. When using short circuit operators place the expression which is likely to evaluate to false on extreme left if the expresion contains &&.
8. When using short circuit operators place the expression which is likely to evaluate to true on extreme left if the expresion contains only ||.
9. Do not use exception handling inside loops.

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Tags: java loops, method calls, termination condition, JIT, HotSpot VM

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