0% completed
In Python, the for-else
and while-else
loops incorporate an else
clause that is somewhat unconventional when compared to similar constructs in other programming languages. This else
clause executes only after the loop finishes its normal execution—meaning it runs to completion without being interrupted by a break
statement.
This feature is particularly useful for scenarios where you need to confirm that a process was completed as expected without early termination.
Python - for-else Loop
The for-else
loop is useful for situations where you need to process all items in a sequence and then perform some final action if and only if the entire sequence was processed. This is commonly used in search operations where the absence of a break
statement can signify that an item was not found.
Syntax
- for item in iterable: This initiates the loop. The loop variable
item
takes each value from theiterable
one by one. - else: This keyword introduces a block that only executes if the loop exhausts the iterable without encountering a
break
statement.
Execution Flow
Basic Example without break
Explanation:
- Loop Iteration: The loop iterates over each element in the
numbers
list and prints it. - Else Execution: Since there is no
break
statement interrupting the loop, theelse
clause executes right after the loop finishes, indicating that all numbers have been processed.
Example with break
Explanation:
- Condition Check: The loop checks each number to see if it is
3
. - break Execution: When it finds
3
, it prints a message and executes abreak
, stopping the loop. - Else Non-execution: Because the loop was interrupted by the
break
, theelse
clause does not execute.
Python - while-else Loop
The while-else
loop is ideal for performing a task repeatedly under a condition and executing an action afterwards if the loop wasn't prematurely stopped by a break
.
Syntax
- while condition: This line sets the condition for the loop to run. As long as the condition evaluates to True, the loop continues to execute.
- else: Similar to the
for-else
structure, this part of the loop runs only if thewhile
loop completes by the condition turning False and not if the loop is exited via abreak
statement.
Example with break
Explanation:
- Interrupt Condition: If
count
reaches 2, the loop prints a message and breaks. - Else Non-execution: Since the loop is interrupted by the
break
, theelse
block does not execute, signaling that the loop did not finish naturally.
These examples clearly illustrate how the else
clause in Python loops adds a layer of logic that can handle both complete and interrupted loop executions. This functionality provides a powerful tool for managing loop outcomes based on whether they were able to run to completion.
.....
.....
.....
Table of Contents
Contents are not accessible
Contents are not accessible
Contents are not accessible
Contents are not accessible
Contents are not accessible