The initializer of a for loop can give an initial value to a variable
declared outside of the loop.
int number;
for (number = 0; number < 5; number++) {
System.out.println("At: " + number);
}You might choose to do this so that after the loop is finished, you can still access the variable.
int number;
for (number = 0; number < 5; number++) {
System.out.println("At: " + number);
}
// This will work, we can access the variable still.
System.out.println("Ended at: " + number);If you had put both the declaration and initial value inside the initializer, you won't be able to use that variable after the loop
for (int number = 0; number < 5; number++) {
System.out.println("At: " + number);
}
// This will not work. number is no longer available
System.out.println("Ended at: " + number);