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Python Loops

This document explains the two loop structures in Python: for loops and while loops. For loops are used when the number of repetitions is known, while while loops are used for an unknown number of repetitions based on a logical condition. The document also provides examples and highlights common pitfalls such as infinite loops and the importance of initializing variables.

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malikarattan2004
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13 views20 pages

Python Loops

This document explains the two loop structures in Python: for loops and while loops. For loops are used when the number of repetitions is known, while while loops are used for an unknown number of repetitions based on a logical condition. The document also provides examples and highlights common pitfalls such as infinite loops and the importance of initializing variables.

Uploaded by

malikarattan2004
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Loops in Python

Repetition Loops in Python

Python has two loop structures, the for loop and


the while loop.

The for loop is usually used where the number of


repetitions are known.

The while loop is usually used where repetitive operations


are required for an unknown number of times.
The structure of a for loop is as follows

statement in main program


...............
...............
statement in main program

for loopCounter in range( start, stop, step ) :


statement in loop
...............
...............
statement in loop

statement in main program


statement in main program
operation of a for loop

loopCounter = start

Execute loop
statements

loopCounter = loopCounter + step

yes
Is loopCounter < stop?
no
Look at the first control line of the for loop

for loopCounter in range( start, stop, step ) :

loop counter start value of Step amount of


which is used to the loop the loop counter
control the loop counter between loops.
(optional)
stop value of the loop counter.
The stop value is not used

The variables loopCounter, start, stop and step must all


be integers.
Here is an example program using a for loop
Here is the output to that program
Here is the same program executes a loop starting at 8, and stepping
by -2, until the loop counter reaches 2.
Notice it does not do the loop when the loop counter is 2
Here is another program using a for loop where the step integer is
omitted. In which case a step of 1 is assumed

Here is the output. Notice the stop number is not output


Python does numbers start to stop-1
The for loop also works with sequences using the in operator,
As shown here using an assorted list

The variable name takes on each item in the list in turn and uses it in
a separate go of the loop. Here is the output
The structure of a while loop is as follows

statement in main program


...............
...............
statement in main program

while logical-statement :
statement in loop
...............
...............
statement in loop

statement in main program


statement in main program
operation of a while loop

is logical-statement True? no
yes

Execute loop
statements
Here are some examples of logical statements

number <= 10
17 > maximum
high >= low
left != right
name == “John”

A logical statement evaluates as ether True or False


Looking at the flow diagram of the while loop you
You should notice

If the logical-statement is not True when the while loop is


first encountered, then it is never done. In this example the
programmer has forgotten to initialise the variable number
before using it in the while loop

If the variable number had never been used before in the


program an error would be generated.
If something is not done within the loop statements to
change the logical-statement to False, then the while loop
will go on forever. For example in this program the variable
number remains at 0, and no amount of iterations of the
while loop will change that.

Often when using while loops they either never run, or


they go on forever and the program stalls – so be careful
Here is another demonstration of the while loop

This while structure will continue to prompt for a number


until a positive number is entered. If the number entered is
negative then the prompting statement will be executed
again, and keep repeating until a positive number is
entered.

Notice I preset the number variable to be -1 before


entering the loop. Otherwise the loop will not happen.
Here is a better demonstration of that program

And an example of the output


Here is a program to read in a number between 10 and 20

And an example of the output


Here is a program to add numbers, until a negative number
is input. Notice the use of an infinite loop and the break
operator
And here is an example of its output

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