Which Windows batch construct is used to repeat commands with a numeric sequence?

• A. FOR /F
• B. FOR /L
• C. IF
• D. GOTO

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is using a loop construct that is designed for numeric sequences. Windows batch files provide a loop that specifically increments or decrements a counter across a numeric range, making it ideal for repeating commands a set number of times or stepping through values.

This construct works by specifying a start value, a step (the amount to add each iteration), and an end value, all inside parentheses after the loop keyword. The general form is: loop variable in (start,step,end) do command. In a batch file, you write the loop variable with double percent signs (%%), for example: for /L %%i in (1,1,10) do echo %%i. This prints numbers from 1 to 10, stepping by 1. If you’re typing directly at the command prompt, you’d use a single percent sign: %i. You can also count down by using a negative step, like (10,-1,1).

Why this is the best fit: it’s the only loop form that is explicitly built to handle a numeric sequence and control the progression by a step value. The other constructs don’t provide a built-in numeric sequence loop: a different form of FOR processes text lines or command output, IF handles conditionals, and GOTO simply jumps to a label without providing a structured numeric iteration.