"Return" and "continue" functions!

Hello MATLAB experts :)

I have not got the concept of "return" and "continue" functions in MATLAB. I went through the help but the examples were not so comprehensive for me. Please could you kindly explain them with a nice example per each?

Have a nice WE,

Mehdi

Answer 1

[Dr. Seis]

Continue example:

function VALUE = somefunction
while SOME_CONDITION
  DO_THIS;
  if SOME_OTHER_CONDITION
    continue;
  end
  DO_THAT
end
VALUE = SOMETHING;

If SOME_OTHER_CONDITION is true, then continue will essentially skip any remaining statements (i.e., DO_THIS will be executed, but DO_THAT will be skipped) in the loop and re-enter the loop provided SOME_CONDITION is still true. If SOME_OTHER_CONDITION is false, then continue will not be encountered and will execute both DO_THIS and DO_THAT for that loop iteration.

Return example:

function VALUE = somefunction
while SOME_CONDITION
  DO_THIS;
  if SOME_OTHER_CONDITION
    VALUE = SOMETHING;
    return;
  end
  DO_THAT
end
DO_SOMETHING_ELSE;

If SOME_OTHER_CONDITION is true, then return will not only skip any remaining statements (i.e., DO_THIS will be executed, but DO_THAT will be skipped) but it will also completely exit the loop. return will also exit the function (skipping DO_SOMETHING_ELSE) and return VALUE. If SOME_OTHER_CONDITION is false, then return will not be encountered and will execute both DO_THIS and DO_THAT for that loop iteration.

[Sean de Wolski]

Nice explanation.

[shayan hajipour]

Nice answer, Thank you!

[kamal wisal]

very nice and precise example. thank you.

[Abdelazzem Atyia]

great explanin thank you indeed

[Caleb Pan]

nice indeed

[Edward Saliba]

excellent answer

[burak ergocmen]

very good

[Erfanandoaut]

Wonderful

Answer 2

[Danupon Subanapong]

Very nice explanation, but I have a question. Please see below.

1) Using continue

function VALUE = somefunction
while SOME_CONDITION
  DO_THIS;
  if SOME_OTHER_CONDITION
    continue;
  end
  DO_THAT
end
VALUE = SOMETHING;

2) No continue just if and ifelse

function VALUE = somefunction
while SOME_CONDITION
  DO_THIS;
  if ~SOME_OTHER_CONDITION
  DO_THAT
  else
  end
end
VALUE = SOMETHING;

Are these two methods giving the same result?

[Jingang Wang]

I think so.

[darova]

No

function VALUE = somefunction
while SOME_CONDITION
  DO_THIS;
  if SOME_OTHER_CONDITION
    continue;
  end
  DO_THAT1
  DO_THAT2
  DO_THAT3
end
VALUE = SOMETHING;

Ii SOME_OTHER_CONDITION is true then continue skips iteration (all DO_THAT will not be executed)