Counting with for loops

When you know in advance exactly how many times to run, for is the cleanest loop in the language — it keeps its own counter, so you don't have to.

#The basic for loop

for i = 1, 5 do
    print("Round " .. i)
end

This runs the block 5 times, with i as 1, then 2, then 3, 4, 5. The for loop keeps its own counter — no manual bookkeeping like the while version needed.

This is how you give every player in the server a reward, give out 10 items, or spawn 5 obstacles.

#Using the counter

The counter isn't just decoration — it's a variable you use inside the loop:

for i = 1, 5 do
    print("Checkpoint " .. i)
end

Here i makes each message unique. You'll use this constantly: numbering spawns, labeling rounds, building a row of obstacles where each one's position depends on i.

#Counting backward and in steps

A third number controls the step:

for i = 5, 1, -1 do   -- 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
    print("Launching in " .. i .. "...")
    task.wait(1)
end

for i = 1, 10, 2 do   -- 1, 3, 5, 7, 9
    print(i)
end

The first example is a countdown — a negative step counts down. The second skips by 2. The step is optional and defaults to 1.

#Common mistakes

• Forgetting that for needs no manual counter. Don't write i = i + 1 inside a for loop — it already counts.
• Trying to change the stop point mid-loop. The range is set when the loop starts.
• Using for for changing conditions. If the end depends on game state, use while.

-- your for loop

Next: putting lists of things in one box — tables.