diff --git a/src/core/meshcop/joiner.cpp b/src/core/meshcop/joiner.cpp
index e668e6d94..9fcac5bfe 100644
--- a/src/core/meshcop/joiner.cpp
+++ b/src/core/meshcop/joiner.cpp
@@ -156,9 +156,9 @@ otError Joiner::Start(const char *     aPskd,
     SuccessOrExit(error = Get<Coap::CoapSecure>().Start(kJoinerUdpPort));
     Get<Coap::CoapSecure>().SetPsk(joinerPskd);
 
-    for (JoinerRouter *router = &mJoinerRouters[0]; router < OT_ARRAY_END(mJoinerRouters); router++)
+    for (JoinerRouter &router : mJoinerRouters)
     {
-        router->mPriority = 0; // Priority zero means entry is not in-use.
+        router.mPriority = 0; // Priority zero means entry is not in-use.
     }
 
     SuccessOrExit(error = PrepareJoinerFinalizeMessage(aProvisioningUrl, aVendorName, aVendorModel, aVendorSwVersion,
diff --git a/src/core/thread/child_table.cpp b/src/core/thread/child_table.cpp
index b859a9429..f6035867d 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/child_table.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/child_table.cpp
@@ -77,18 +77,18 @@ ChildTable::ChildTable(Instance &aInstance)
     : InstanceLocator(aInstance)
     , mMaxChildrenAllowed(kMaxChildren)
 {
-    for (Child *child = &mChildren[0]; child < OT_ARRAY_END(mChildren); child++)
+    for (Child &child : mChildren)
     {
-        child->Init(aInstance);
-        child->Clear();
+        child.Init(aInstance);
+        child.Clear();
     }
 }
 
 void ChildTable::Clear(void)
 {
-    for (Child *child = &mChildren[0]; child < OT_ARRAY_END(mChildren); child++)
+    for (Child &child : mChildren)
     {
-        child->Clear();
+        child.Clear();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder_ftd.cpp b/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder_ftd.cpp
index 51c28337f..7909884fe 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder_ftd.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder_ftd.cpp
@@ -731,13 +731,13 @@ bool MeshForwarder::UpdateFragmentLifetime(void)
 {
     bool shouldRun = false;
 
-    for (FragmentPriorityEntry *entry = &mFragmentEntries[0]; entry < OT_ARRAY_END(mFragmentEntries); entry++)
+    for (FragmentPriorityEntry &entry : mFragmentEntries)
     {
-        if (entry->GetLifetime() != 0)
+        if (entry.GetLifetime() != 0)
         {
-            entry->DecrementLifetime();
+            entry.DecrementLifetime();
 
-            if (entry->GetLifetime() != 0)
+            if (entry.GetLifetime() != 0)
             {
                 shouldRun = true;
             }
@@ -787,38 +787,34 @@ exit:
 
 FragmentPriorityEntry *MeshForwarder::FindFragmentPriorityEntry(uint16_t aTag, uint16_t aSrcRloc16)
 {
-    FragmentPriorityEntry *entry;
+    FragmentPriorityEntry *rval = nullptr;
 
-    for (entry = &mFragmentEntries[0]; entry < OT_ARRAY_END(mFragmentEntries); entry++)
+    for (FragmentPriorityEntry &entry : mFragmentEntries)
     {
-        if ((entry->GetLifetime() != 0) && (entry->GetDatagramTag() == aTag) && (entry->GetSrcRloc16() == aSrcRloc16))
+        if ((entry.GetLifetime() != 0) && (entry.GetDatagramTag() == aTag) && (entry.GetSrcRloc16() == aSrcRloc16))
         {
-            ExitNow();
+            rval = &entry;
+            break;
         }
     }
 
-    entry = nullptr;
-
-exit:
-    return entry;
+    return rval;
 }
 
 FragmentPriorityEntry *MeshForwarder::GetUnusedFragmentPriorityEntry(void)
 {
-    FragmentPriorityEntry *entry;
+    FragmentPriorityEntry *rval = nullptr;
 
-    for (entry = &mFragmentEntries[0]; entry < OT_ARRAY_END(mFragmentEntries); entry++)
+    for (FragmentPriorityEntry &entry : mFragmentEntries)
     {
-        if (entry->GetLifetime() == 0)
+        if (entry.GetLifetime() == 0)
         {
-            ExitNow();
+            rval = &entry;
+            break;
         }
     }
 
-    entry = nullptr;
-
-exit:
-    return entry;
+    return rval;
 }
 
 otError MeshForwarder::GetFragmentPriority(Lowpan::FragmentHeader &aFragmentHeader,
diff --git a/src/core/thread/router_table.cpp b/src/core/thread/router_table.cpp
index d44bcb392..f0c4612b8 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/router_table.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/router_table.cpp
@@ -59,9 +59,9 @@ RouterTable::RouterTable(Instance &aInstance)
     , mRouterIdSequence(Random::NonCrypto::GetUint8())
     , mActiveRouterCount(0)
 {
-    for (uint8_t index = 0; index < Mle::kMaxRouters; index++)
+    for (Router &router : mRouters)
     {
-        mRouters[index].Init(aInstance);
+        router.Init(aInstance);
     }
 
     Clear();
@@ -96,10 +96,8 @@ void RouterTable::Clear(void)
 
 void RouterTable::ClearNeighbors(void)
 {
-    for (uint8_t index = 0; index < Mle::kMaxRouters; index++)
+    for (Router &router : mRouters)
     {
-        Router &router = mRouters[index];
-
         if (router.IsStateValid())
         {
             Get<Mle::MleRouter>().Signal(OT_NEIGHBOR_TABLE_EVENT_ROUTER_REMOVED, router);
diff --git a/src/core/utils/slaac_address.cpp b/src/core/utils/slaac_address.cpp
index 7af3c1e97..3e419d2e3 100644
--- a/src/core/utils/slaac_address.cpp
+++ b/src/core/utils/slaac_address.cpp
@@ -150,7 +150,6 @@ void Slaac::Update(UpdateMode aMode)
 {
     NetworkData::Iterator           iterator;
     NetworkData::OnMeshPrefixConfig config;
-    Ip6::NetifUnicastAddress *      slaacAddr;
     bool                            found;
 
     if (aMode & kModeRemove)
@@ -158,9 +157,9 @@ void Slaac::Update(UpdateMode aMode)
         // If enabled, remove any SLAAC addresses with no matching on-mesh prefix,
         // otherwise (when disabled) remove all previously added SLAAC addresses.
 
-        for (slaacAddr = &mAddresses[0]; slaacAddr < OT_ARRAY_END(mAddresses); slaacAddr++)
+        for (Ip6::NetifUnicastAddress &slaacAddr : mAddresses)
         {
-            if (!slaacAddr->mValid)
+            if (!slaacAddr.mValid)
             {
                 continue;
             }
@@ -180,7 +179,7 @@ void Slaac::Update(UpdateMode aMode)
                     }
 
                     if (config.mSlaac && !ShouldFilter(config.GetPrefix()) &&
-                        DoesConfigMatchNetifAddr(config, *slaacAddr))
+                        DoesConfigMatchNetifAddr(config, slaacAddr))
                     {
                         found = true;
                         break;
@@ -190,10 +189,10 @@ void Slaac::Update(UpdateMode aMode)
 
             if (!found)
             {
-                otLogInfoUtil("SLAAC: Removing address %s", slaacAddr->GetAddress().ToString().AsCString());
+                otLogInfoUtil("SLAAC: Removing address %s", slaacAddr.GetAddress().ToString().AsCString());
 
-                Get<ThreadNetif>().RemoveUnicastAddress(*slaacAddr);
-                slaacAddr->mValid = false;
+                Get<ThreadNetif>().RemoveUnicastAddress(slaacAddr);
+                slaacAddr.mValid = false;
             }
         }
     }
@@ -229,26 +228,26 @@ void Slaac::Update(UpdateMode aMode)
             {
                 bool added = false;
 
-                for (slaacAddr = &mAddresses[0]; slaacAddr < OT_ARRAY_END(mAddresses); slaacAddr++)
+                for (Ip6::NetifUnicastAddress &slaacAddr : mAddresses)
                 {
-                    if (slaacAddr->mValid)
+                    if (slaacAddr.mValid)
                     {
                         continue;
                     }
 
-                    slaacAddr->Clear();
-                    slaacAddr->GetAddress().SetPrefix(prefix);
+                    slaacAddr.Clear();
+                    slaacAddr.GetAddress().SetPrefix(prefix);
 
-                    slaacAddr->mPrefixLength  = config.mOnMesh ? prefix.mLength : 128;
-                    slaacAddr->mAddressOrigin = OT_ADDRESS_ORIGIN_SLAAC;
-                    slaacAddr->mPreferred     = config.mPreferred;
-                    slaacAddr->mValid         = true;
+                    slaacAddr.mPrefixLength  = config.mOnMesh ? prefix.mLength : 128;
+                    slaacAddr.mAddressOrigin = OT_ADDRESS_ORIGIN_SLAAC;
+                    slaacAddr.mPreferred     = config.mPreferred;
+                    slaacAddr.mValid         = true;
 
-                    IgnoreError(GenerateIid(*slaacAddr));
+                    IgnoreError(GenerateIid(slaacAddr));
 
-                    otLogInfoUtil("SLAAC: Adding address %s", slaacAddr->GetAddress().ToString().AsCString());
+                    otLogInfoUtil("SLAAC: Adding address %s", slaacAddr.GetAddress().ToString().AsCString());
 
-                    Get<ThreadNetif>().AddUnicastAddress(*slaacAddr);
+                    Get<ThreadNetif>().AddUnicastAddress(slaacAddr);
 
                     added = true;
                     break;