Understanding Loops in Python: A Comprehensive Guide

Loops are a fundamental concept in programming, allowing for the repetition of a block of code multiple times. In Python, loops are used to iterate over sequences (such as lists, tuples, strings) or to execute a block of code a specified number of times. There are two primary types of loops in Python: for loops and while loops.
‌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). This loop goes through each item in the sequence, in order, and executes the block of code once for each item.

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fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
for x in fruits:
    print(x)

This example will print each fruit in the list on a new line.
‌While Loops‌:

A while loop is used when you don’t know how many times the loop should run before starting the loop. It will continue to execute the block of code inside it as long as a given condition remains true.

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i = 1
while i < 6:
    print(i)
    i += 1

This example will print numbers from 1 to 5.
‌Loop Control Statements‌:

Python also supports loop control statements that change execution from its normal sequence. When executed inside a loop, break terminates the loop completely, and continue skips the rest of the code inside the loop for the current iteration only.

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for x in range(6):
    if x == 3:
        break
    print(x)

This example prints numbers from 0 to 2.

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for x in range(6):
    if x == 3:
        continue
    print(x)

This example skips the number 3 and prints the rest from 0 to 5.

Understanding loops is crucial for efficient coding in Python, as they allow for automation of repetitive tasks and efficient data processing.

[tags]
Python, programming, loops, for loops, while loops, loop control statements