Break

Definition

A break statement in Python is used to exit a loop prematurely when a certain condition is met. It immediately stops the execution of the innermost loop and transfers control to the statement following that loop.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The break statement can be used in both while and for loops.
2. When a break statement is executed, the else block (if present) associated with the loop will not be executed.
3. Break is commonly used with if statements inside loops to create conditional exits.
4. Using break can help improve efficiency by stopping unnecessary iterations once a desired condition is fulfilled.
5. Nested loops: A break statement only terminates the current loop it resides in, not any outer loops.

Review Questions

• What happens when a break statement is executed inside a nested loop?
• Can you use a break statement outside of a loop? Explain why or why not.
• How does using a break statement affect the execution of an else block associated with a loop?

Related terms

Continue: The continue statement skips the rest of the code inside the current iteration of the loop and moves to the next iteration.

While Loop:

A control flow statement that allows code to be executed repeatedly based on a given Boolean condition.

For Loop: \text{A control flow statement for specifying iteration, which allows code to be executed repeatedly.}