freeCodeCamp/guide/english/certifications/javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures/basic-javascript/iterate-through-an-array-with-a-for-loop/index.md

---
title: Iterate Through an Array with a For Loop
---
# Iterate Through an Array with a For Loop


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## Hints

### Hint 1
Remember the structure of a `for` loop:
`for ([initialization]; [condition]; [final-expression])
   statement`
   
- The `[initialization]` part is executed only once (the first time).
- The `[condition]` is checked on every iteration.
- The `[final-expression]` is executed along the `statement` if `[condition]` resolves to `true`.

### Hint 2
Remember how accumulators work:
`var x += i`
   
- The variable `x` is going to act as the accumulator.
- The variable `i` is the one which value will be stored (and accumulated) inside `x`
- The expression `+=` is an just abreviation of `x = x + i`


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## Solutions

<details><summary>Solution 1 (Click to Show/Hide)</summary>

```javascript
var total = 0;
for (var i = 0; i < myArr.length; i++) {
  total += myArr[i];
}
```

#### Code Explanation
- Inititialization: `i` gets a value of `0` and its used as a counter.
- Condition: the subsequent code is executed as long as `i` is lower than the length of `myArr` (which is 5; five numbers but arrays are zero based).
- Final-expression: `i` is incremented by `1`.
- Statement: The function adds `myArr[i]`'s value to `total` until the condition isn't met like so:

```
total + myArr[0] -> 0 + 2 = 2 
total + myArr[1] -> 2 + 3 = 5
total + myArr[2] -> 5 + 4 = 9
total + myArr[3] -> 9 + 5 = 14 
total + myArr[4] -> 14 + 6 = 20
```
</details>

<details><summary>Solution 2 (Click to Show/Hide)</summary>

```javascript
for (var y = myArr.length - 1; y >= 0; y--) {
  total += myArr[y];
}
```

#### Code Explanation
This works similarly to the last solution but it's faster<sup><a href="#cite1">1</a></sup> although it might not meet your requirements if order is important.
- Initialization: `y` gets the `myArr.length`'s value once so the function doesn't need to check it at `condition` every time the loop is executed.
- Condition: the loop is executed as long as `y` is greater than `0`.
- Final-expression: `y` is decremented by `1`.
- Statement: The function adds `myArr[y]`'s value to `total` until the condition isn't met like so:
```
total + myArr[4] -> 0 + 6 = 6
total + myArr[3] -> 6 + 5 = 11
total + myArr[2] -> 11 + 4 = 15
total + myArr[1] -> 15 + 3 = 18
total + myArr[0] -> 18 + 2 = 20
```
#### Relevant Links
<span id="cite1">1</span>. ["Are loops really faster in reverse?",  *stackoverflow.com*](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1340589/are-loops-really-faster-in-reverse)

#### Relevant Links

- ["for" - *MDN JavaScript reference*](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Statements/for)
</details>