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Infinite loop in Go (Golang)

Last Updated : July 19, 2025

An infinite loop is a loop that continues to execute endlessly because its condition is always true or omitted altogether. In Go, the most common way to create an infinite loop is by using the for loop without a condition.

Syntax of Infinite Loop in Go

To create an infinite loop, simply write the for keyword followed by an empty set of parentheses or no condition at all:

for {
    // Loop body
}

Example: Basic Infinite Loop

In this example, the loop prints a message endlessly until it's manually stopped (e.g., with Ctrl+C):

package main
import "fmt"

func main() {
    for {
        fmt.Println("This will print forever...")
    }
}

When you run the above code, the output will be:

This will print forever...
This will print forever...
This will print forever...
...

Breaking Out of an Infinite Loop

To exit an infinite loop based on a condition, use the break statement. Here's an example:

Example

The following example demonstrates how to exit an infinite loop in Go using the break statement once a certain condition is met:

package main
import "fmt"

func main() {
    count := 1

    for {
        fmt.Println("Count is:", count)
        count++
        if count > 5 {
            break
        }
    }

    fmt.Println("Loop ended")
}

When you run the above code, the output will be:

Count is: 1
Count is: 2
Count is: 3
Count is: 4
Count is: 5
Loop ended

Use Cases of Infinite Loops

• Running background tasks
• Creating servers that listen continuously
• Polling for user input or external events

Avoiding Infinite Loops: Use Exit Strategies Wisely

Infinite loops can cause your program to hang or consume too many resources if not controlled properly. Always ensure there is a proper exit strategy using break, return, or os.Exit().

Exercise

Test your knowledge about infinite loops in Go.

1. Which syntax creates an infinite loop in Go? --Select-- for {} while (true) {} loop {}
2. What is the purpose of the break statement inside a loop? --Select-- It stops the current iteration It exits the loop completely It pauses the loop
3. Which function is used to terminate a Go program immediately? --Select-- os.Exit() stop() exit()