Question

Is

if(a)
{
    do
    {
        b();
    }
    while(a);
}

exactly like

while(a)
{
    b();
}

?

Answer 1

They are the same and I will provide an example where you might actually want to use the “Do-While” instead of a while loop.

do{
    x = superMathClass.performComplicatedCalculation(3.14);
}
while (x < 1000);

as opposed to

x = superMathClass.performComplicatedCalculation(3.14);
while ( x < 1000);
{
      x = superMathClass.performComplicatedCalculation(3.14);
}

The argument for using a Do-While is shown above. Assume the line x = superMathClass.performComplicatedCalculation(3.14);
wasnt just one line of code and instead was 25 lines of code. If you need to change it, in the do while you would only change it once. In the while loop you would have to change it twice.

I do agree do whiles are off and you should avoid them, but there are arguments in their favor also.