The Python while loop enables continuous code block execution provided that its accompanying condition returns True. The structure of a while loop starts with the while keyword together with a Boolean condition followed by a code block that appears under the condition with proper indentation. During each iteration the condition gets checked for truth and execution perpetuates while the condition keeps a True value. 

The loop terminates its execution when the condition switches from True to False after which the program advances to following code blocks. A variable such as count needs initialization before a while loop that prints numbers from 0 to 4 together with a condition that checks if count remains below 5. The value of count enhances after each loop iteration before reaching 5 where the condition switches False to finish the loop execution. 

The condition in a while loop must become False or the loop will continue without end thus producing an infinite loop. The loop execution depends on changes made to loop variables along with break statements for manual loop termination.

Flow chart of while loop in Python

Flow chart of while loop in Python

A while loop repeats the enclosed code blocks so long as the logical test returns positive. The loop conducts a recurrence check of its condition after every execution. True evaluation of the condition will keep the loop active but False evaluation stops the loop and progresses to the following statement.

Infinite while Loop in Python

A Python infinite while loop serves as an endless looping operation until a specified condition or break statement interrupts it. The loop becomes infinite because True is used as the condition which always produces a value of True.

Example of Infinite while Loop

<table><thead>
  <tr>
    <td>while True:    print("This loop will run forever!")</td>
  </tr></thead>
</table>

The statement displays "This loop will run forever!" The program prints the message continuously until user interruption occurs through terminal input Ctrl+C.

If you want to exit the loop , you can use break statement.

<table><thead>
  <tr>
    <td>counter = 0while True:    counter += 1    print(counter)    if counter &gt;= 5:        break  # Exit the loop when counter reaches 5<br></td>
  </tr></thead>
</table>

While Loop with Continue Statement

The continue statement within while loops permits skipping current iteration contents which moves execution flow straight to the following iteration. A continue statement helps programmers avoid continuing with parts of the loop as per specific conditions while retaining loop execution.

Example 


<table><thead>
  <tr>
    <td>counter = 0while counter &lt; 10:    counter += 1    if counter == 5:        continue  # Skip the rest of the loop when counter is 5    print(f"Counter is {counter}")<br></td>
  </tr></thead>
</table>

Output

<table><thead>
  <tr>
    <td>Counter is 1Counter is 2Counter is 3Counter is 4Counter is 6Counter is 7Counter is 8Counter is 9Counter is 10<br></td>
  </tr></thead>
</table>

While Loop with the break statement

The continue statement within while loops permits skipping current iteration contents which moves execution flow straight to the following iteration. A continue statement helps programmers avoid continuing with parts of the loop as per specific conditions while retaining loop execution.

Example

<table><thead>
  <tr>
    <td>counter = 0while True:    counter += 1    if counter == 5:        break  # Exit the loop when counter reaches 5    print(f"Counter is {counter}")<br></td>
  </tr></thead>
</table>

Output

<table><thead>
  <tr>
    <td>Counter is 1Counter is 2Counter is 3Counter is 4<br></td>
  </tr></thead>
</table>

While Loop with a pass statement

When executed the Python pass statement acts as a null operation that performs no functional task. The pass statement acts as an empty placeholder when syntax demands a statement while developers intend to abstain from running any code. A while loop that contains pass statements enables you to produce loop cycles that execute no statements.

A while loop that contains the pass statement appears as follows:

Example

<table><thead>
  <tr>
    <td>counter = 0while counter &lt; 5:    counter += 1    if counter == 3:        pass  # Do nothing when counter is 3    else:        print(f"Counter is {counter}")<br></td>
  </tr></thead>
</table>

Output

<table><thead>
  <tr>
    <td>Counter is 1Counter is 2Counter is 4Counter is 5<br></td>
  </tr></thead>
</table>

During the execution of the loop when counter equals 3 the program skips output due to the pass statement. The pass statement serves a purpose in loops to show that no operations should occur at specific loop iterations.

While Loop with else

In Python programming language a while loop allows execution of an else block. The else block functions only when the loop finishes naturally due to the False evaluation of the loop condition. The execution of the else block depends on whether the loop exited because of a break statement.

An example of a while loop with its associated else block follows below:

Example


<table><thead>
  <tr>
    <td>counter = 0while counter &lt; 5:    counter += 1    print(f"Counter is {counter}")else:    print("Loop finished normally, without a break.")<br></td>
  </tr></thead>
</table>

Output

Counter is 1
Counter is 2
Counter is 3
Counter is 4
Counter is 5
Loop finished normally, without a break.



Example with Break

<table><thead>
  <tr>
    <td>counter = 0while counter &lt; 5:    counter += 1    if counter == 3:        print("Breaking the loop at counter 3")        break  # Exit the loop when counter is 3else:    print("This won't be printed because the loop was broken.")<br></td>
  </tr></thead>
</table>

Output

<table><thead>
  <tr>
    <td>Counter is 1Counter is 2Breaking the loop at counter 3<br></td>
  </tr></thead>
</table>

Conclusion

A Python while loop enables repetitive execution of code until a specified condition maintains truth value status. The language features break, continue, pass and else provide developers with tools to achieve different terminations and functions when needed. Your practical loop control becomes easier when you understand the syntax mechanisms that help you run loops more effectively for dynamic programming.

FAQ's

👇 Instructions

Copy and paste below code to page Head section

The break statement is used to terminate the loop early even if the loop condition remains True.

The continue statement skips the current loop iteration and moves on to the next one without executing the entire code for that iteration.

When performed, the pass statement serves as a placeholder and does nothing. When a loop structure must be made but code implementation in particular iterations is not needed, it is used.

If the condition is always true the loop will run indefinitely creating an infinite loop. To avoid this make sure the loop has a break statement or a condition to halt it.

Yes you can combine many control statements including break continue and others to handle sophisticated loop behavior dependent on conditions.

Because the condition is always True an endless while loop never ends. It is typically used when you want the loop to keep going until a certain external event occurs usually with a break to stop it.

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