help with loops - super n00b

first post :)
i am 17 and have always liked computers and have built my own pc etc...
i am currently trying out programming while i decide if i should do a computer science degree... i want to be sure programming is 'for me' before i dive into a computer science which is mainly software engineering.
I am following the tutorial on this site and am up to page 3.
Cprogramming.com Tutorial: Loops

here is what i am having problems with:

Code:

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#include <iostream>

using namespace std; // So the program can see cout and endl

int main()
{
  // The loop goes while x < 10, and x increases by one every loop
  for ( int x = 0; x < 10; x++ ) {
    // Keep in mind that the loop condition checks
    //  the conditional statement before it loops again.
    //  consequently, when x equals 10 the loop breaks.
    // x is updated before the condition is checked.   
    cout<< x <<endl;
  }
  cin.get();
}

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i can get the code to work, and i am trying to get my head around this line:

Code:

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for ( variable initialization; condition; variable update ) {
  Code to execute while the condition is true
}

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so
variable initialization is where you want to start counting (in this case 0 )
Condition is what you want to count up to? ( in this case 10, not including 10)
Then what is variable update? in this case it is x++ but what is this?

if someone could please help by confirming my understanding, and helping me on the x++ bit?


i apologise if this is a very basic question to be asking on such an advanced forum, bare with me :)

> Then what is variable update? in this case it is x++ but what is this?
Well it's anything you like, so long as it makes progress from your initial state (x=0) to the final state (x >= 10).

Without some kind of change to your conditional expression (say incrementing x), the loop would loop forever.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by antipesto93

variable initialization is where you want to start counting (in this case 0 )
Condition is what you want to count up to? ( in this case 10, not including 10)
Then what is variable update? in this case it is x++ but what is this?

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This is where we count.