While loop

Definition

A while loop is a control flow statement that allows code to be executed repeatedly based on a given boolean condition. The loop continues to execute as long as the condition remains true.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The syntax for a while loop in Python starts with the keyword 'while' followed by a condition and a colon.
2. If the condition in the while loop never becomes false, it results in an infinite loop.
3. You can use the 'break' statement to exit a while loop prematurely.
4. The 'continue' statement skips the current iteration and moves to the next iteration of the loop.
5. While loops are useful when the number of iterations is not known beforehand.

Review Questions

• What happens if the condition in a while loop never becomes false?
• How can you terminate a while loop before its condition becomes false?
• What is the purpose of using 'continue' within a while loop?

Related terms

for loop: A control flow statement that iterates over a sequence (such as a list, tuple, or string) or other iterable object.

break statement: A statement used to exit from a loop immediately, regardless of the iteration number or condition.

continue statement: \text{A statement used inside loops to skip the rest of the code inside the current iteration and move on to the next iteration.}