> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.superoffice.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Loops - while

A `while` loop is a control structure for repeating a block of code as long as the condition given is true.

The definition has 3 parts:

* keyword **while**
* a condition enclosed in parentheses
* 1 or more statements enclosed in curly brackets

This definition is very similar to the [if statement][1]. The key difference is that with `if`, the code block is run 0 or exactly 1 time. With `while`, the code block is run 0 or more times.

```crmscript! theme={null}
Integer i = 1;

while (i < 10){
  printLine(i.toString());
  i++;
}
```

In this example, the counter `i` must be less than 10. The loop will be repeated a total of 9 times, printing the numbers 1 through 9 in ascending order.

## Condition

The **condition** determines if the code inside the block will be run or not. It is tested at the beginning of each pass through the loop. If it evaluates to **true**, the enclosed statements are run. If it evaluates to **false**, the loop will terminate and we go to the 1st statement *after* the loop.

You can use both [conditional and logical operators][2] and also statements that evaluate to true or false.

<Danger>
  It is crucial that you **update the counter!** If not, your loop will run forever (or until it crashes the browser).
</Danger>

## Usage

You should use a `while` loop when you don't know the number of iterations ahead of time.

It is also very useful when the counter updates don't follow a fixed pattern such as `++`. For example, when you receive a group sign-up, the new number of attendees must reflect the size of the group.

[1]: ./conditions

[2]: ./operators


## Related topics

- [Loops - for](/en/automation/crmscript/fundamentals/for-loops.md)
- [Loops - foreach](/en/automation/crmscript/fundamentals/foreach-loops.md)
- [Loops - break and continue](/en/automation/crmscript/fundamentals/loop-control.md)
- [Arrays](/en/automation/crmscript/fundamentals/arrays.md)
- [Functions](/en/automation/crmscript/fundamentals/functions.md)
- [Code structure (syntax)](/en/automation/crmscript/fundamentals/syntax.md)