Welcome to the exciting world of loops in PHP! In this lesson, we will explore two types of loops: the while loop and the do-while loop. Loops are a fundamental concept in programming as they allow us to repeat a set of instructions until a specific condition is met. By using loops, we eliminate the need to write redundant code, making our scripts more concise and easier to maintain.

In this unit, we will break down the while loop and do-while loop, showing you how they work and providing practical examples to implement them. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to write scripts that can count down for a spaceship launch, which is a perfect example of when and why to use these loops.

The while loop repeats a block of code as long as the specified condition is true. In the example below, the loop will continue to execute as long as the $countdown variable is greater than 0. After each iteration, the $countdown variable is decremented by 1.

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1<?php
2// Initialize the countdown variable
3$countdown = 5; 
4// Continue looping as long as countdown is greater than 0
5while ($countdown > 0) {
6    // Output the current countdown value
7    echo $countdown . " seconds left until launch\n"; 
8    // Decrement the countdown by 1
9    $countdown--; 
10}
11?>

Upon running the above code, you will see the following countdown sequence:

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15 seconds left until launch
24 seconds left until launch
33 seconds left until launch
42 seconds left until launch
51 seconds left until launch

The do-while loop is similar to the while loop, but with one key difference: it guarantees that the block of code will execute at least once. This is because the condition is checked after the code has executed. In the example below, the loop will execute and decrement the $countdown variable by 1 until it is no longer greater than 0.

php
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1<?php
2// Initialize the countdown variable
3$countdown = 5; 
4do {
5    // Output the current countdown value
6    echo $countdown . " seconds left until launch\n"; 
7    // Decrement the countdown by 1
8    $countdown--; 
9  // Continue looping as long as countdown is greater than 0
10} while ($countdown > 0); 
11?>

Executing the above snippet will result in the following output:

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15 seconds left until launch
24 seconds left until launch
33 seconds left until launch
42 seconds left until launch
51 seconds left until launch

Loops are critical for performing repeated tasks without the need to write the same code multiple times. This not only makes your code more efficient and easier to read, but it also opens the door to handling dynamic conditions and large datasets effectively. Understanding how to use while and do-while loops will enhance your ability to automate processes and solve problems more efficiently. Imagine being able to initiate a countdown for a spaceship launch or any other repetitive task with just a few lines of code.

Ready to get started? Let’s jump into the practice section and explore these loops together!