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<H1><A NAME="SECTION008900000000000000000"></A>
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6.9 The <tt class=keyword>break</tt> statement 
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<P>
<dl><dd><pre class=verbatim>
break_stmt:     "break"
</pre></dl>

<P>
<tt class=keyword>break</tt> may only occur syntactically nested in a <tt class=keyword>for</tt>
or <tt class=keyword>while</tt> loop, but not nested in a function or class definition
within that loop.
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<P>
It terminates the nearest enclosing loop, skipping the optional
<tt class=keyword>else</tt> clause if the loop has one.
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<P>
If a <tt class=keyword>for</tt> loop is terminated by <tt class=keyword>break</tt>, the loop control
target keeps its current value.
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<P>
When <tt class=keyword>break</tt> passes control out of a <tt class=keyword>try</tt> statement
with a <tt class=keyword>finally</tt> clause, that <tt class=keyword>finally</tt> clause is executed
before really leaving the loop.
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