Loops in Python

Welcome to the Control Flow lesson! Today, we'll learn about loops in Python, which help your programs repeat actions efficiently.

What are Loops?

Loops allow your program to execute a block of code multiple times without having to write the same code repeatedly. They are essential for tasks that require repetition.

• For Loops: Iterate over a sequence of items.
• While Loops: Repeat as long as a condition is true.

For Loops

The for loop is used to iterate over a sequence (like a list, tuple, or string) and execute a block of code for each item in the sequence.

Syntax:

for item in sequence:
    # code to execute for each item

Example of a For Loop

Let's see how a for loop works with a simple example.

Example:

# Iterates over each fruit in the list and prints it
fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
for fruit in fruits:
    print(fruit)

Output of the For Loop Example

When you run the above code, Python will print each fruit in the list:

apple
banana
cherry

While Loops

The while loop repeats a block of code as long as a specified condition is true.

Syntax:

apple
banana
cherry

Example of a While Loop

Here's how a while loop works with a simple example.

Example:

# Prints numbers from 1 to 5
count = 1
while count <= 5:
    print(count)
    count += 1  # Increments count by 1

Output of the While Loop Example

Running the above code will display the numbers 1 through 5.

1
2
3
4
5

Great Job!

You've learned how to use for and while loops to repeat actions in your Python programs. Loops help make your code more efficient and powerful. Keep practicing by creating your own loops and exploring different scenarios!