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
### Problem explanation:
_Declare and initialize a variable `total` to `0`. Use a `for` loop to add the value of each element of the `myArr` array to `total`._

#### 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`.
> _try to solve the problem now_


## Spoiler alert!

**Solution ahead!**

## Code solution:

```javascript
for (var i = 0; i < myArr.length; i++) {
  total += myArr[i];
}
```
·  Run code at [repl.it](https://repl.it/@AdrianSkar/Basic-JS-iterate-for-loop).

### 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:

```text
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
```

## Alternative code solution:

```javascript
for (var y = myArr.length - 1; y >= 0; y--) {
  total += myArr[y];
}
```
·  Run code at [repl.it](https://repl.it/@AdrianSkar/Basic-JS-iterate-for-loop).

### 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:
```text
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
```
### Sources
<span id="cite1">1</span>. ["Are loops really faster in reverse?",  *stackoverflow.com*](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1340589/are-loops-really-faster-in-reverse)

### Resources

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