Break (Combined Fragment)   A break interaction operator (signified by the value of break) defines a combined fragment where the messages enclosed within the fragment are performed instead of the messages in the outer (enclosing) fragment. The break operator is typically used when a given message or set of messages will halt the performance of the enclosing set of messages.

Explanation

The break operator is used in situations where the performance of messages needs to be stopped, for example to break out of a loop, or a set of sequenced messages. Typically a combined fragment with a break operator is enclosed in another fragment, if the message enclosed in the break operator occurs then the messages outside the break are halted and are not performed. This concept occurs in our everyday life for example where we continue to play a game until it starts to rain whereupon the game is abandoned. At a programming level this could be represented by the break statement in a loop that terminates the loop.

Related Entries

Loop (Combined Fragment)  Graphically Similar,  Used Together A combined fragment with an operator of loop is related to a combined fragment with an operator of break because a fragment with a break operator is often nested inside a loop fragment and provides a way for the messages contained in the loop to be halted when a particular message occurs. The break operator can be used with other interaction fragments but it is commonly used in conjunction with the loop.