Course Content
Python Loops Tutorial
Python Loops Tutorial
Choosing Between for and while Loops in Python
Loops are essential tools for repetitive tasks in Python, but deciding whether to use a for
loop or a while
loop depends on the nature of the task. Both have unique strengths that suit different scenarios.
A for
loop is ideal when you know the exact number of iterations or are iterating through a sequence like a list, tuple, string, or range.
Iterating Over Sequences
When you need to process each element in a list, tuple, or string.
travel_list = ["Monako", "Luxemburg", "Liverpool", "Barcelona", "Munchen"] for city in travel_list: print(city)
Fixed Number of Iterations
When the number of iterations is predetermined.
for i in range(5): print(f"Trip {i + 1}")
When to Use while
Loops
A while
loop is better suited for situations where the number of iterations is unknown in advance, and the loop depends on a condition.
Condition-Based Iteration
When you want the loop to continue until a specific condition is met.
budget = 1000 travel_costs = [300, 150, 200, 400, 100] total_cost = 0 i = 0 while total_cost + travel_costs[i] <= budget: total_cost += travel_costs[i] print(f"Trip {i + 1} cost: ${travel_costs[i]}") i += 1
Infinite Loops with Exit Conditions
When you need an ongoing process that stops based on a condition.
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