Differences between a while loop and a for loop in PHP?

Question

I'm reading an ebook on PHP right now, and the author noted that the difference between a while loop and a for loop is that the for loop will count how many times it runs.

So take this:

<?php
    for ($i = 1; $i < 10; $i = $i + 1) {
        print "Number $i\n";
    }
?> 

But wouldn't this be the same as

<?php
    $i = 1;
        while ($i < 10) {
            $i = $i + 1;
            print "Number $i\n";
        }
?>

Or is there some other differences that he didn't point out? (Aside from using while loop for when you're unsure of how long the condition will remain true, such as selecting rows from a database)

I mean, if that's the only difference, can't I just not use the for loop and use the while loop instead?

Answer 1

Functionally, a for loop is equivalent to a while loop; that is, each can be rewritten as the other with no change to the outcome or side effects. However, each has different connotations. A while loop runs while a condition holds; the condition is static, though circumstances change. A for loop runs over a sequence. The difference is important to programmers but not programs, just as choice of variables names are important to programmers even though they can be changed to produce functionally equivalent code. One loop construct will make more sense than the other, depending on the situation.

Answer 2

The Main Difference Between for() and While() is that we have to define the limit or count but in while() loop we don't define limit or count it works until reached the last item

FOR LOOP Initialization may be either in loop statement or outside the loop. It is normally used when the number of iterations is known. Condition is a relational expression. It is used when initialization and increment is simple. for ( init ; condition ; iteration ) { statement(s); }

WHILE LOOP Initialization is always outside the loop. It is normally used when the number of iterations is unknown. Condition may be expression or non-zero value. It is used for complex initialization. while ( condition ) { statement(s); }