When implementing an infinite loop, is there a difference in using while(1) vs for(;;) vs goto (in C)?

Question

When implementing an infinite loop, is there a difference in using while(1) vs for(;;) vs goto?

Thanks, Chenz

Answer 1

Although there's no significant difference as mentioned in the other posts, a common reason to use for (;;) instead of while (1) is that static analysis tools (and some compilers with certain warning levels) often complain about the while loop.

Goto is a bit nasty, but should produce the same code as the others. Personally, I stick to for (;;) (to keep Lint happy), but I have no problem with while (1).

Answer 2

They are equivalent, even if you turn the optimizer off.

Example:

#include <stdio.h>

extern void f(void) {
    while(1) {
        putchar(' ');
    }
}

extern void g(void) {
    for(;;){
        putchar(' ');
    }
}

extern void h(void) {
    z:
        putchar(' ');
    goto z;
}

Compile with gcc -O0 gives equivalent assembly for all 3 functions:

 f:
 ;  [ EXTERNAL ]
 ;
 +00000 00000fb4 80402DE9             stmdb             sp!,{r7,lr}
 +00004 00000fb8 00708DE2             add               r7,sp,#0x0
 +00008 00000fbc 2000A0E3 loc_000008: mov               r0,#0x20
 +0000c 00000fc0 0A0000EB             bl                putchar (stub)
 +00010 00000fc4 FCFFFFEA             b                 loc_000008
 ;
 ;
 g:
 ;  [ EXTERNAL ]
 ;
 +00000 00000fc8 80402DE9             stmdb             sp!,{r7,lr}
 +00004 00000fcc 00708DE2             add               r7,sp,#0x0
 +00008 00000fd0 2000A0E3 loc_000008: mov               r0,#0x20
 +0000c 00000fd4 050000EB             bl                putchar (stub)
 +00010 00000fd8 FCFFFFEA             b                 loc_000008
 ;
 ;
 h:
 ;  [ EXTERNAL ]
 ;
 +00000 00000fdc 80402DE9             stmdb             sp!,{r7,lr}
 +00004 00000fe0 00708DE2             add               r7,sp,#0x0
 +00008 00000fe4 2000A0E3 loc_000008: mov               r0,#0x20
 +0000c 00000fe8 000000EB             bl                putchar (stub)
 +00010 00000fec FCFFFFEA             b                 loc_000008