SQL Server: FOR LOOP
Learn how to simulate the FOR LOOP in SQL Server (Transact-SQL) with syntax and examples.
TIP: Since the FOR LOOP does not exist in SQL Server, this page describes how to simulate a FOR LOOP using a WHILE LOOP.
Description
In SQL Server, there is no FOR LOOP. However, you simulate the FOR LOOP using the WHILE LOOP.
Syntax
The syntax to simulate the FOR Loop in SQL Server (Transact-SQL) is:
DECLARE @cnt INT = 0; WHILE @cnt < cnt_total BEGIN {...statements...} SET @cnt = @cnt + 1; END;
Parameters or Arguments
- cnt_total
- The number of times that you want the simulated FOR LOOP (ie: WHILE LOOP) to execute.
- statements
- The statements of code to execute each pass through the loop.
Note
- You can simulate the FOR LOOP in SQL Server (Transact-SQL) using the WHILE LOOP.
Example
Let’s look at an example that shows how to simulate the FOR LOOP in SQL Server (Transact-SQL) using the WHILE LOOP.
For example:
DECLARE @cnt INT = 0; WHILE @cnt < 10 BEGIN PRINT 'Inside simulated FOR LOOP on TechOnTheNet.com'; SET @cnt = @cnt + 1; END; PRINT 'Done simulated FOR LOOP on TechOnTheNet.com'; GO
In this WHILE LOOP example, the loop would terminate once @cnt reaches 10.