diff --git a/include/sound/hdaudio.h b/include/sound/hdaudio.h
index 06536e01ed94..c052afc27547 100644
--- a/include/sound/hdaudio.h
+++ b/include/sound/hdaudio.h
@@ -571,4 +571,9 @@ static inline unsigned int snd_array_index(struct snd_array *array, void *ptr)
 	return (unsigned long)(ptr - array->list) / array->elem_size;
 }
 
+/* a helper macro to iterate for each snd_array element */
+#define snd_array_for_each(array, idx, ptr) \
+	for ((idx) = 0, (ptr) = (array)->list; (idx) < (array)->used; \
+	     (ptr) = snd_array_elem(array, ++(idx)))
+
 #endif /* __SOUND_HDAUDIO_H */
diff --git a/sound/hda/hdac_regmap.c b/sound/hda/hdac_regmap.c
index 47a358fab132..419e285e0226 100644
--- a/sound/hda/hdac_regmap.c
+++ b/sound/hda/hdac_regmap.c
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@ static bool hda_writeable_reg(struct device *dev, unsigned int reg)
 {
 	struct hdac_device *codec = dev_to_hdac_dev(dev);
 	unsigned int verb = get_verb(reg);
+	const unsigned int *v;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->vendor_verbs.used; i++) {
-		unsigned int *v = snd_array_elem(&codec->vendor_verbs, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->vendor_verbs, i, v) {
 		if (verb == *v)
 			return true;
 	}
diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_auto_parser.c b/sound/pci/hda/hda_auto_parser.c
index d3ea73171a3d..b9a6b66aeb0e 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_auto_parser.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_auto_parser.c
@@ -793,11 +793,11 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_hda_add_verbs);
  */
 void snd_hda_apply_verbs(struct hda_codec *codec)
 {
+	const struct hda_verb **v;
 	int i;
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->verbs.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_verb **v = snd_array_elem(&codec->verbs, i);
+
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->verbs, i, v)
 		snd_hda_sequence_write(codec, *v);
-	}
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_hda_apply_verbs);
 
@@ -890,10 +890,10 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_hda_apply_fixup);
 static bool pin_config_match(struct hda_codec *codec,
 			     const struct hda_pintbl *pins)
 {
+	const struct hda_pincfg *pin;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->init_pins.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_pincfg *pin = snd_array_elem(&codec->init_pins, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->init_pins, i, pin) {
 		hda_nid_t nid = pin->nid;
 		u32 cfg = pin->cfg;
 		const struct hda_pintbl *t_pins;
diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_codec.c b/sound/pci/hda/hda_codec.c
index 5bc3a7468e17..0aa923d129f5 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_codec.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_codec.c
@@ -481,9 +481,10 @@ static struct hda_pincfg *look_up_pincfg(struct hda_codec *codec,
 					 struct snd_array *array,
 					 hda_nid_t nid)
 {
+	struct hda_pincfg *pin;
 	int i;
-	for (i = 0; i < array->used; i++) {
-		struct hda_pincfg *pin = snd_array_elem(array, i);
+
+	snd_array_for_each(array, i, pin) {
 		if (pin->nid == nid)
 			return pin;
 	}
@@ -618,14 +619,15 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_hda_codec_get_pin_target);
  */
 void snd_hda_shutup_pins(struct hda_codec *codec)
 {
+	const struct hda_pincfg *pin;
 	int i;
+
 	/* don't shut up pins when unloading the driver; otherwise it breaks
 	 * the default pin setup at the next load of the driver
 	 */
 	if (codec->bus->shutdown)
 		return;
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->init_pins.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_pincfg *pin = snd_array_elem(&codec->init_pins, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->init_pins, i, pin) {
 		/* use read here for syncing after issuing each verb */
 		snd_hda_codec_read(codec, pin->nid, 0,
 				   AC_VERB_SET_PIN_WIDGET_CONTROL, 0);
@@ -638,13 +640,14 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_hda_shutup_pins);
 /* Restore the pin controls cleared previously via snd_hda_shutup_pins() */
 static void restore_shutup_pins(struct hda_codec *codec)
 {
+	const struct hda_pincfg *pin;
 	int i;
+
 	if (!codec->pins_shutup)
 		return;
 	if (codec->bus->shutdown)
 		return;
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->init_pins.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_pincfg *pin = snd_array_elem(&codec->init_pins, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->init_pins, i, pin) {
 		snd_hda_codec_write(codec, pin->nid, 0,
 				    AC_VERB_SET_PIN_WIDGET_CONTROL,
 				    pin->ctrl);
@@ -697,8 +700,7 @@ get_hda_cvt_setup(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t nid)
 	struct hda_cvt_setup *p;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->cvt_setups.used; i++) {
-		p = snd_array_elem(&codec->cvt_setups, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->cvt_setups, i, p) {
 		if (p->nid == nid)
 			return p;
 	}
@@ -1076,8 +1078,7 @@ void snd_hda_codec_setup_stream(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t nid,
 	/* make other inactive cvts with the same stream-tag dirty */
 	type = get_wcaps_type(get_wcaps(codec, nid));
 	list_for_each_codec(c, codec->bus) {
-		for (i = 0; i < c->cvt_setups.used; i++) {
-			p = snd_array_elem(&c->cvt_setups, i);
+		snd_array_for_each(&c->cvt_setups, i, p) {
 			if (!p->active && p->stream_tag == stream_tag &&
 			    get_wcaps_type(get_wcaps(c, p->nid)) == type)
 				p->dirty = 1;
@@ -1140,12 +1141,11 @@ static void really_cleanup_stream(struct hda_codec *codec,
 static void purify_inactive_streams(struct hda_codec *codec)
 {
 	struct hda_codec *c;
+	struct hda_cvt_setup *p;
 	int i;
 
 	list_for_each_codec(c, codec->bus) {
-		for (i = 0; i < c->cvt_setups.used; i++) {
-			struct hda_cvt_setup *p;
-			p = snd_array_elem(&c->cvt_setups, i);
+		snd_array_for_each(&c->cvt_setups, i, p) {
 			if (p->dirty)
 				really_cleanup_stream(c, p);
 		}
@@ -1156,10 +1156,10 @@ static void purify_inactive_streams(struct hda_codec *codec)
 /* clean up all streams; called from suspend */
 static void hda_cleanup_all_streams(struct hda_codec *codec)
 {
+	struct hda_cvt_setup *p;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->cvt_setups.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_cvt_setup *p = snd_array_elem(&codec->cvt_setups, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->cvt_setups, i, p) {
 		if (p->stream_tag)
 			really_cleanup_stream(codec, p);
 	}
@@ -2461,10 +2461,10 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_hda_create_dig_out_ctls);
 struct hda_spdif_out *snd_hda_spdif_out_of_nid(struct hda_codec *codec,
 					       hda_nid_t nid)
 {
+	struct hda_spdif_out *spdif;
 	int i;
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->spdif_out.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_spdif_out *spdif =
-				snd_array_elem(&codec->spdif_out, i);
+
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->spdif_out, i, spdif) {
 		if (spdif->nid == nid)
 			return spdif;
 	}
diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
index 5cc65093d941..51030f040745 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c
@@ -264,10 +264,10 @@ static struct nid_path *get_nid_path(struct hda_codec *codec,
 				     int anchor_nid)
 {
 	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
+	struct nid_path *path;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < spec->paths.used; i++) {
-		struct nid_path *path = snd_array_elem(&spec->paths, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&spec->paths, i, path) {
 		if (path->depth <= 0)
 			continue;
 		if ((!from_nid || path->path[0] == from_nid) &&
@@ -325,10 +325,10 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(snd_hda_get_path_from_idx);
 static bool is_dac_already_used(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t nid)
 {
 	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
+	const struct nid_path *path;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < spec->paths.used; i++) {
-		struct nid_path *path = snd_array_elem(&spec->paths, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&spec->paths, i, path) {
 		if (path->path[0] == nid)
 			return true;
 	}
@@ -351,11 +351,11 @@ static bool is_reachable_path(struct hda_codec *codec,
 static bool is_ctl_used(struct hda_codec *codec, unsigned int val, int type)
 {
 	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
+	const struct nid_path *path;
 	int i;
 
 	val &= AMP_VAL_COMPARE_MASK;
-	for (i = 0; i < spec->paths.used; i++) {
-		struct nid_path *path = snd_array_elem(&spec->paths, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&spec->paths, i, path) {
 		if ((path->ctls[type] & AMP_VAL_COMPARE_MASK) == val)
 			return true;
 	}
@@ -638,13 +638,13 @@ static bool is_active_nid(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t nid,
 {
 	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
 	int type = get_wcaps_type(get_wcaps(codec, nid));
+	const struct nid_path *path;
 	int i, n;
 
 	if (nid == codec->core.afg)
 		return true;
 
-	for (n = 0; n < spec->paths.used; n++) {
-		struct nid_path *path = snd_array_elem(&spec->paths, n);
+	snd_array_for_each(&spec->paths, n, path) {
 		if (!path->active)
 			continue;
 		if (codec->power_save_node) {
@@ -2696,10 +2696,10 @@ static const struct snd_kcontrol_new out_jack_mode_enum = {
 static bool find_kctl_name(struct hda_codec *codec, const char *name, int idx)
 {
 	struct hda_gen_spec *spec = codec->spec;
+	const struct snd_kcontrol_new *kctl;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < spec->kctls.used; i++) {
-		struct snd_kcontrol_new *kctl = snd_array_elem(&spec->kctls, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&spec->kctls, i, kctl) {
 		if (!strcmp(kctl->name, name) && kctl->index == idx)
 			return true;
 	}
@@ -4021,8 +4021,7 @@ static hda_nid_t set_path_power(struct hda_codec *codec, hda_nid_t nid,
 	struct nid_path *path;
 	int n;
 
-	for (n = 0; n < spec->paths.used; n++) {
-		path = snd_array_elem(&spec->paths, n);
+	snd_array_for_each(&spec->paths, n, path) {
 		if (!path->depth)
 			continue;
 		if (path->path[0] == nid ||
@@ -5831,10 +5830,10 @@ static void init_digital(struct hda_codec *codec)
  */
 static void clear_unsol_on_unused_pins(struct hda_codec *codec)
 {
+	const struct hda_pincfg *pin;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->init_pins.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_pincfg *pin = snd_array_elem(&codec->init_pins, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->init_pins, i, pin) {
 		hda_nid_t nid = pin->nid;
 		if (is_jack_detectable(codec, nid) &&
 		    !snd_hda_jack_tbl_get(codec, nid))
diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_sysfs.c b/sound/pci/hda/hda_sysfs.c
index 9b7efece4484..6ec79c58d48d 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_sysfs.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_sysfs.c
@@ -80,10 +80,10 @@ static ssize_t pin_configs_show(struct hda_codec *codec,
 				struct snd_array *list,
 				char *buf)
 {
+	const struct hda_pincfg *pin;
 	int i, len = 0;
 	mutex_lock(&codec->user_mutex);
-	for (i = 0; i < list->used; i++) {
-		struct hda_pincfg *pin = snd_array_elem(list, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(list, i, pin) {
 		len += sprintf(buf + len, "0x%02x 0x%08x\n",
 			       pin->nid, pin->cfg);
 	}
@@ -217,10 +217,10 @@ static ssize_t init_verbs_show(struct device *dev,
 			       char *buf)
 {
 	struct hda_codec *codec = dev_get_drvdata(dev);
+	const struct hda_verb *v;
 	int i, len = 0;
 	mutex_lock(&codec->user_mutex);
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->init_verbs.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_verb *v = snd_array_elem(&codec->init_verbs, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->init_verbs, i, v) {
 		len += snprintf(buf + len, PAGE_SIZE - len,
 				"0x%02x 0x%03x 0x%04x\n",
 				v->nid, v->verb, v->param);
@@ -267,10 +267,10 @@ static ssize_t hints_show(struct device *dev,
 			  char *buf)
 {
 	struct hda_codec *codec = dev_get_drvdata(dev);
+	const struct hda_hint *hint;
 	int i, len = 0;
 	mutex_lock(&codec->user_mutex);
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->hints.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_hint *hint = snd_array_elem(&codec->hints, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->hints, i, hint) {
 		len += snprintf(buf + len, PAGE_SIZE - len,
 				"%s = %s\n", hint->key, hint->val);
 	}
@@ -280,10 +280,10 @@ static ssize_t hints_show(struct device *dev,
 
 static struct hda_hint *get_hint(struct hda_codec *codec, const char *key)
 {
+	struct hda_hint *hint;
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->hints.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_hint *hint = snd_array_elem(&codec->hints, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->hints, i, hint) {
 		if (!strcmp(hint->key, key))
 			return hint;
 	}
@@ -783,13 +783,13 @@ void snd_hda_sysfs_init(struct hda_codec *codec)
 void snd_hda_sysfs_clear(struct hda_codec *codec)
 {
 #ifdef CONFIG_SND_HDA_RECONFIG
+	struct hda_hint *hint;
 	int i;
 
 	/* clear init verbs */
 	snd_array_free(&codec->init_verbs);
 	/* clear hints */
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->hints.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_hint *hint = snd_array_elem(&codec->hints, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->hints, i, hint) {
 		kfree(hint->key); /* we don't need to free hint->val */
 	}
 	snd_array_free(&codec->hints);
diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/patch_conexant.c b/sound/pci/hda/patch_conexant.c
index 5b4dbcec6de8..093d2a9ece85 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/patch_conexant.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/patch_conexant.c
@@ -588,6 +588,7 @@ static void cxt_fixup_olpc_xo(struct hda_codec *codec,
 				    const struct hda_fixup *fix, int action)
 {
 	struct conexant_spec *spec = codec->spec;
+	struct snd_kcontrol_new *kctl;
 	int i;
 
 	if (action != HDA_FIXUP_ACT_PROBE)
@@ -606,9 +607,7 @@ static void cxt_fixup_olpc_xo(struct hda_codec *codec,
 	snd_hda_codec_set_pin_target(codec, 0x1a, PIN_VREF50);
 
 	/* override mic boost control */
-	for (i = 0; i < spec->gen.kctls.used; i++) {
-		struct snd_kcontrol_new *kctl =
-			snd_array_elem(&spec->gen.kctls, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&spec->gen.kctls, i, kctl) {
 		if (!strcmp(kctl->name, "Mic Boost Volume")) {
 			kctl->put = olpc_xo_mic_boost_put;
 			break;
diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/patch_realtek.c b/sound/pci/hda/patch_realtek.c
index aef1f52db7d9..7f2d5b157b75 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/patch_realtek.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/patch_realtek.c
@@ -2828,6 +2828,7 @@ static int find_ext_mic_pin(struct hda_codec *codec);
 
 static void alc286_shutup(struct hda_codec *codec)
 {
+	const struct hda_pincfg *pin;
 	int i;
 	int mic_pin = find_ext_mic_pin(codec);
 	/* don't shut up pins when unloading the driver; otherwise it breaks
@@ -2835,8 +2836,7 @@ static void alc286_shutup(struct hda_codec *codec)
 	 */
 	if (codec->bus->shutdown)
 		return;
-	for (i = 0; i < codec->init_pins.used; i++) {
-		struct hda_pincfg *pin = snd_array_elem(&codec->init_pins, i);
+	snd_array_for_each(&codec->init_pins, i, pin) {
 		/* use read here for syncing after issuing each verb */
 		if (pin->nid != mic_pin)
 			snd_hda_codec_read(codec, pin->nid, 0,