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Python break, continue and pass Statements | How to Use?

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If you are new to programming, you might wonder what Python break, continue and pass statements do. In Python, these three statements can be used to control the execution flow in your code and allow you to stop the current loop or function and resume it at a later point or to execute a block of code only once.

This article will explain each of these statements in detail and show you how to use them in your code. By the end of the article, you will have a better understanding of what these statements do and how to use them effectively in your programs. So, let us get started.

What is Python break Statement?

The break statement in Python is a keyword used to terminate the execution of a for loop or any other iterative programming construct. When it executes, this statement will cause the program to jump out of the loop and proceed with its next line of code.

Flow Diagram

python break continue and pass statement

Implementation

for val in "codeleaks":
    if val == "l":
        break
    print(val)

print("stop")

Output

Using break in Conditional Statements

A break in the conditional statement is when one of the conditions for a for loop, while, or nested loops does not evaluate to true. The program will then automatically proceed to the following line of code without executing any further statements that may depend on the condition is false.

For Loop

A break in for loop is a conditional statement that allows you to exit the for loop prematurely. This can be helpful when you want to do something else instead of continuing to run the code within the for loop.

c = 'codeleaks'

for letter in c: 
    
    print(letter) 
  
    if letter == 'l': 
        break
    
print("Out of for loop") 
print()

Output

using break in for loop

While Loop

In Python, a break in the while loop simply means that the code within the while loop will continue execution after its conditional expression has been met. This can be useful for exiting out of a block of code early if desired.

s = 'codeleaks'


i = 0
while True: 
    print(s[i]) 
    
    # break the loop as soon it sees 'e' 
    # or 's' 
    if s[i] == 'e':
        break
    i += 1
    
print("Out of while loop")

Output

using break statement in while loop

Nested Loop

A break in a nested loop is when the outermost for or else statement terminates before the innermost for or else statement. This can cause unexpected behavior because code inside of the for or else statements may be executed more than once.

for i in range(1, 5):
    print('Multiplication of', i)
    for j in range(1, 5):
   
        if i > 5 and j > 5:
            break
        print(i * j, end=' ')
    print('')

Output

python break continue and pass statement

What is Python continuous statement?

A continuous statement in Python is a block of code executed continuously instead of once. This makes it ideal for situations where you need something to run constantly without taking up memory or processing power. For example, you may use continuous statements to keep track of the number of items in a list or the progress of a lengthy task.

Flow Diagram

python break continue and pass statement

Implementation

for val in "codeleaks":
    if val == "l":
        continue
    print(val)

print("stop")

Output

python continuous statement

Using continuous in Conditional Statements

A continuous statement is a simple clause that always evaluates to True. In conditional statements, it is sometimes used to create logical loops or conditions whereby the code repeatedly runs based on certain criteria.

For Loop

A conditional statement in Python is a block of code that tests one condition and, depending on the result, executes different blocks of code. For loop in a continuous statement allows you to execute the loop multiple times until the condition evaluates as False.

numbers = [2, 3, 4, 5]
for i in numbers:
    if i > 10:
        continue
    square = i * i
    print('Square of a number is', square)

Output

continuous statement in for loop

Also learn more about, for loop with multiple variables in python.

While Loop

The while loop is a conditional statement that allows you to repeat a block of code as long as certain conditions are met. It’s usually used in conjunction with the if statement and can help make decisions based on input from users or checking status updates.

name = 'co de lea ks'

size = len(name)
i = -1

while i < size - 1:
    i = i + 1

    if name[i].isspace():
        continue
    
    print(name[i], end=' ')

Output

continuous statement in while loop

Nested Loop

Nested loop in continuous statement is a feature of the Python programming language that allows you to run one set of instructions within another set of instructions without stopping execution. This type of loop can be used for executing a long series of statements multiple times as needed.

for i in range(1, 5):
    print('Multiplication of', i)
    for j in range(1, 5):

        if j == 5:
            continue
        print(i * j, end=' ')
    print('')

Output

nested loop in continuous statement

Pass Statement in Python

Pass statement does nothing. The pass statement in Python is used when you want a statement to be written syntactically but do not want any command or code to run. It is like a null value. To create empty loops, you can use the pass statement. Empty control statements, functions, and classes are also passed.
week = ['monday', 'tuesday', 'wednesday', 'thursday', 'friday', 'saturday', 'sunday']
for days in week:
    pass
print(week)

Output

pass statement in python

FAQs

How can you tell the difference between break and continue?

The break statement terminates a while or for loop, while the continue statement stops the code from executing and resumes them in the following iteration.

Is break a jump statement?

A jump statement is used to hop the execution elsewhere in the code, while a break statement is used to terminate the loop while the condition is true.

How pass statement is different from a comment in Python?

A pass statement is a null statement that is not ignored by the interpreter, while the interpreter entirely ignores the comment.

Conclusion

In this article, you saw how Python break, continue and pass statements restrict execution flow. Now that you know how these statements work, we hope you can use them to your advantage in writing more effective code. But, as always, keep reading until you feel super comfortable with all of Python’s features.