Loops are fundamental constructs in programming that allow us to execute a block of code repeatedly. Python provides three primary types of loops: while, for, and nested loops. Additionally, control statements within loops help manage the flow of execution. Here’s an overview of each loop type and control statement:
| Name of the Loop | Loop Type & Description |
|---|---|
| While Loop | Executes a block of code as long as a specified condition remains true. The condition is evaluated before each iteration, meaning the loop may not execute if the condition is initially false. |
| For Loop | Iterates over a sequence (such as a list, tuple, or string) or other iterable object. It simplifies looping by automatically managing the loop variable and iterating over the sequence. |
| Nested Loops | Involves placing one loop inside another loop. Each loop runs independently, and the inner loop executes completely for each iteration of the outer loop. Useful for working with multidimensional data. |
Control statements provide additional control over the execution of loops. They help in managing how loops are exited, skipped, or handled when certain conditions are met, thus allowing for more flexible and efficient loop management. Here’s a brief overview:
| Name of the Control Statement | Description |
|---|---|
| Break Statement | Terminates the loop entirely and transfers control to the statement immediately following the loop. Useful for exiting a loop early based on a condition. |
| Continue Statement | Skips the rest of the code inside the loop for the current iteration and proceeds with the next iteration of the loop. Useful for skipping specific cases without terminating the loop. |
| Pass Statement | Acts as a placeholder in the loop. It is used when a statement is syntactically required but you do not want to execute any code. This can help in creating minimal or incomplete code blocks. |