Break and Continue in Python

Break and Continue in Python: Controlling Loop Execution

Loops in Python allow us to execute a block of code repeatedly. However, sometimes we need to **control** the loop's behavior—either by **stopping** it early or **skipping** certain iterations. This is where `break` and `continue` statements come in.

Why Use `break` and `continue`?

• Efficient Loop Control: Stop loops when necessary.
• Skip Unwanted Iterations: Avoid unnecessary execution.
• Optimized Performance: Reduce iterations in large data sets.

The `break` Statement

The `break` statement **stops** a loop immediately when a condition is met.

# Using break in a loop
for num in range(1, 10):
    if num == 5:
        break  # Stops the loop when num is 5
    print(num)

# Output:
# 1
# 2
# 3
# 4

As soon as `num == 5`, the loop **terminates** completely, skipping any further iterations.

The `continue` Statement

The `continue` statement **skips** the current iteration and moves to the next one.

# Using continue in a loop
for num in range(1, 10):
    if num == 5:
        continue  # Skips printing 5, moves to next iteration
    print(num)

# Output:
# 1
# 2
# 3
# 4
# 6
# 7
# 8
# 9

When `num == 5`, the `continue` statement **skips** the `print(num)` line but **does not stop** the loop.

Using `break` and `continue` in `while` Loops

These statements also work inside `while` loops:

# Using break in a while loop
count = 1
while count < 10:
    if count == 5:
        break  # Exit loop when count is 5
    print(count)
    count += 1

# Using continue in a while loop
count = 0
while count < 10:
    count += 1
    if count == 5:
        continue  # Skip iteration when count is 5
    print(count)

Conclusion

Using `break` and `continue` allows for **fine control** over loops, making programs more efficient and flexible. Where do you think these statements will be useful in your projects?