Python Loops
Python Loops
Python has two primitive loop commands:
• while loops
• for loops
The while Loop
With the while loop we can execute a set of statements as long as a
condition is true.
Example: Print i as long as i is less than 6:
i=1
while i < 6:
print(i)
i += 1
Note: remember to increment i, or else the loop will continue forever.
The break Statement: With the break statement we can stop the loop even if
the while condition is true:
i=1
while i < 6:
print(i)
if i == 3:
break
i += 1
The continue Statement: With the continue statement we can stop the
current iteration, and continue with the next:
i=0
while i < 6:
i += 1
if i == 3:
continue
The else Statement
With the else statement we can run a block of code once when
the condition no longer is true:
Example: Print a message once the condition is false:
i=1
while i < 6:
print(i)
i += 1
else:
print("i is no longer less than 6")
Python For Loops:
A for loop is used for iterating over a sequence (that is either a list, a tuple, a
dictionary, a set, or a string).
With the for loop we can execute a set of statements, once for each item in a
list, tuple, set etc.
Example
Print each fruit in a fruit list:
fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
for x in fruits:
print(x)
The for loop does not require an indexing variable to set beforehand.
Looping Through a String
Even strings are iterable objects, they contain a sequence of characters:
Example”Loop through the letters in the word "banana":
for x in "banana":
The break Statement: With the break statement we can stop the loop before it
has looped through all the items:
Example: Exit the loop when x is "banana":
fruits = ["apple", "banana", fruits = ["apple", "banana",
"cherry"] "cherry"]
for x in fruits: for x in fruits:
print(x) if x == "banana":
if x == "banana": break
break print(x)
The continue Statement: With the continue statement we can stop the
current iteration of the loop, and continue with the next:
Example: Do not print banana:
fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
for x in fruits:
if x == "banana":
continue
The range() Function
We can use the range() function, to loop through a set of code a
specified number of times. The range() function returns a sequence
of numbers, starting from 0 by default, and increments by 1 (by
default), and ends at a specified number.
Note that range(6) is not the values of 0 to 6, but the values 0 to 5.
for x in
range(6):
print(x)
It is possible to specify the starting value by adding a parameter:
range(2, 6),range(2,
for x in which means values from 2 to 6 (but not including 6):
6):
print(x)
The range() function defaults to increment the sequence by 1,
however it is possible to specify the increment value by adding a
for x in range(2,
third parameter: range(2, 30, 3):
30, 3):
Nested Loops
A nested loop is a loop inside a loop. The "inner loop" will be executed one time
for each iteration of the "outer loop":
Example: Print each adjective for every fruit:
adj = ["red", "big", "tasty"]
fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
for x in adj:
for y in fruits:
print(x, y)
The pass Statement
for loops cannot be empty, but if you for some reason have a for loop with no
content, put in the pass statement to avoid getting an error.
Example
for x in [0, 1, 2]:
pass
Else in For Loop
The else keyword in a for loop specifies a block of code to be executed when the
loop is finished:
Example: Print all numbers from 0 to 5, and print a message when the loop has
ended:
for x in range(6):
print(x)
else:
print("Finally finished!")
Note: The else block will NOT be executed if the loop is stopped by a break
statement.
Example: Break the loop when x is 3, and see what happens with the else block:
for x in range(6):
if x == 3: break
print(x)
else:
print("Finally finished!")
