The RLaB while statement is similar to the C while statement. Example: > i=1; > while(i<10) { a[i] = 1.3*i; i++; } > a a = matrix columns 1 thru 5 1.3 2.6 3.9 5.2 6.5 matrix columns 6 thru 9 7.8 9.1 10.4 11.7 while(0) { "this will never be executed" } If the conditional evaluates to zero then the loop is not executed, if it evaluates to anything other than zero it will be executed until the condition is zero.