Types of Loops in Python - For, While Loop

Python While, For, and Nested Loops

Types of Loops in Python are like your personal assistants in the Python coding journey. Because they handle repetitive tasks efficiently, saving you time and effort. There are two main types of loops in Python for loops and while loops. Each serves a specific purpose, whether it’s iterating over a collection or running a block of code until a condition is met. Let's dive in and explore these loops, their functionality, and how they can make your code smarter and more efficient!"

With the help of this Python Tutorial, you will get an idea of what loops are in Python. Plus, you will learn the types of loops in Python, including the syntax of loops in Python and examples of loops in Python. Additionally, enrolling in a Python for Data Science and AI Course can help you deepen your understanding of loops and other Python concepts, enabling you to apply them effectively in data science and AI projects.

What is a loop in Python?

A loop is a control flow statement in Python that allows you to execute a piece of code repeatedly until a specific condition is met. Loops are necessary for operations that require repetitive execution, such as iterating through a Python list of items or doing calculations many times.

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Different Types of Loops in Python

To understand the Loop Structures in Python, you need to know that there are 3 Types of Loops in Python, those are:

1. Python while loop
2. Python for loop
3. Python nested loop

1. Python while loop

• In Python, a while loop is a control flow statement that allows you to execute a block of code repeatedly while a given condition is true.
• The condition is evaluated at the start of each loop iteration, and if it is true, the loop body is executed.
• The loop is terminated if the condition is false.

Syntax of Python while loop

while expression:
 statement(s)

Example of Python while loop in Python Compiler

        count = 0
while (count < 10):
 print ('The count is:', count)
 count = count + 1
print ("Good bye!")

A while loop is a control flow statement that allows you to repeatedly run a block of code as long as a given condition is true. The condition in this case is count 10. This signifies that the loop will keep running as long as the variable count is less than 10.

Output

The count is: 0
The count is: 1
The count is: 2
The count is: 3
The count is: 4
The count is: 5
The count is: 6
The count is: 7
The count is: 8
The count is: 9
Good bye!

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2. Python for loop

• A for loop is a control flow statement in Python that allows you to iterate over a sequence of elements such as a list, tuple, or string.
• On each iteration, the loop variable in Python will take on the value of the next item in the sequence.

Syntax of Python for loop

for iterating_var in sequence:
 statements(s)

Example of Python for loop

        for letter in 'Python': # First Example
 print ('Current Letter :', letter)
fruits = ['guava', 'apple', 'mango']
for fruit in fruits: # Second Example
 print ('Current fruit :', fruit)
print ("Good bye!")

The code in the above Python Editor consists of up to two for loops that traverse over a Python string and a list in Python. The first loop loops through the string 'Python', printing the current letter to the terminal. The second loop iterates through the 'fruits' list, printing the current fruit to the terminal. Finally, the code outputs to the terminal the message "Goodbye!"

Output

Current Letter : P
Current Letter : y
Current Letter : t
Current Letter : h
Current Letter : o
Current Letter : n
Current fruit : guava
Current fruit : apple
Current fruit : mango
Good bye!

3. Python Nested loop

• In Python, a nested loop is a loop that is contained within another loop.
• This indicates that the inner loop is executed within each outer loop iteration.
• Nested loops are handy for iterating over a two-dimensional array or processing hierarchical data.

Syntax for Nested for loop

for iterating_var in sequence:
 for iterating_var in sequence:
   statements(s)
 statements(s)

Syntax for Nested while loop

while expression:
 while expression:
   statement(s)
 statement(s)

Example of Python Nested Loop

        i = 2
while(i < 100):
 j = 2
 while(j <= (i/j)):
   if not(i%j): break
   j = j + 1
 if (j > i/j) : print (i, " is prime")
 i = i + 1
print ("Good bye!")

Using a nested while loop, this code snippet determines prime numbers between 2 and 100. The outer loop iterates through numbers ranging from 2 to 100, while the inner loop determines if each number is divisible by any number ranging from 2 to its square root. If a number in the inner loop is not divisible by any other number, it is considered prime and written to the console. The outer loop is repeated until it reaches 100, at which point "Goodbye!" is printed.

Output

2 is prime
3 is prime
5 is prime
7 is prime
11 is prime
13 is prime
17 is prime
19 is prime
23 is prime
29 is prime
31 is prime
37 is prime
41 is prime
43 is prime
47 is prime
53 is prime
59 is prime
61 is prime
67 is prime
71 is prime
73 is prime
79 is prime
83 is prime
89 is prime
97 is prime
Good bye!

Loop Control Statements in Python

1. Break
2. Continue
3. Pass

1. Break

Example of Break Statement in Python

          
for i in range(10):
  if i == 5:
    break
  print(i)

Output

0
1
2
3
4

2. Continue

Example of Continue Statement in Python Online Editor

          
for i in range(10):
  if i % 2 == 0:
    continue
  print(i)

Output

1
3
5
7
9

3. Pass

Example of Pass Statement in Python

        for i in range(10):
  # Do nothing
  pass

Summary

In this article, we have learned about the different types of loop statements in Python. We have also seen how to use them with the help of examples. Whether you're a Python beginner or looking to enhance your skills, mastering these loop statements can greatly improve your coding abilities. So why not consider pursuing a Python certification to solidify your knowledge and showcase your expertise?