Sometimes you may want to create something by combining two collections together in some manner. The DRY-est way to do this is with a nested loop, like this:

Integer[] numbers = {1, 2};
String[] letters = {"a", "b"};

for (Integer number : numbers) {
  for (String letter : letters) {
    System.out.println(number + letter);
  }
}

The code above would print:

1a
1b
2a
2b

Here's another example of a nested loop being used to re-create a deck of cards:

String[] suits = {"Spades", "Clubs"};
String[] values = {"Ace", "2", "3"};

 for ( String suit : suits ) {
  for ( String value : values) {
    System.out.println(value + " of " + suit);
  }
}

The code above would print:

Ace of Spades
2 of Spades
3 of Spades
Ace of Clubs
2 of Clubs
3 of Clubs

In each both examples above, one loop is running inside of another loop.

• In the first example we run this loop: for (Integer number : numbers) { asking it to create the variable number. Then we run a second loop, for (String letter : letters) {, creating the variable letter. Inside of the second loop we have access to both the letter and number variables.

• The next time through the nested loop, for (String letter : letters) {, our letter variable will have changed. However, since we are still inside the first iteration of the outer for (Integer number : numbers) { loop, our number variable is still 1.

• After cycling through the entire for (String letter : letters) {, loop, our number variable in the outer loop will change to 2 . Then, we'll go through the entire for (String letter : letters) { loop again.

When applicable, try out nested loops in your own applications!