Python for loop

A for loop is used to iterate over a list or sequence of items. In python, we can use for loop ot iterate over a list, a tuple, a dictionary, a set, or a string.

Generally, a for loop is used to repeat a code N number of times, where N is the number of items in the sequence.

1. Syntax of for Loop

for val in sequence:
	statement(s)

The variable val represents a value from the sequence, for the current iteration. After each iteration. the value points to next available value in the sequence.

Once, all the values have been iterated, the for loop terminates.

Python supports the nested for loop as well. A nested for loop is one for loop inside another for loop.

for val1 in sequence:
	for val2 in sequence:
		statement(s)

2. Python for loop examples

2.1. Iterating over list

Python program to iterate over a list of items using for loop. This program prints all the names stored in the list.

names = ["alex", "brian", "charles"]
for x in names:
  print(x) 

Program output.

alex
brian
charles

2.2. Iterating over String

Python program to iterate over a string using for loop.

In Python, strings are iterable. They are a sequence of characters.

name = "alex"
for x in name:
  print(x) 

Program output.

a
l
e
x

2.3. Iterate through dictionary

Python program to iterate over a tuples using for loop.

colors_dict = {'color': 'blue', 'fruit': 'apple', 'pet': 'dog'}

for key in colors_dict.keys():
    print(key)

for item in colors_dict.items():
    print(item)

Program output.

color
fruit
pet

('color', 'blue')
('fruit', 'apple')
('pet', 'dog')

2.4. Iterating over set

Python program to iterate over a set using for loop.

colorSet = set(["red","green","blue"])

for color in colorSet:
    print(color)

Program output.

green
red
blue

3. The break and continue statements

The break statement is used to stop the iteration, and exit the for loop, when a certain condition is met:

names = ["alex", "brian", "charles"]

print("Loop started")

for x in names:
  print(x) 
  if x == "brian":
  	break;

print("Loop ended")

Program output.

Loop started
alex
brian
Loop ended

The continue statement is used to stop the current iteration, and jump to the next iteration in the loop. It does not terminate the for loop.

The break statement is used to stop the iteration, and exit the for loop, when a certain condition is met:

names = ["alex", "brian", "charles"]

print("Loop started")

for x in names:
  if x == "brian":
  	continue;
  print(x) 

print("Loop ended")

Program output.

Loop started
alex
charles
Loop ended

4. for loop with else

The for loop can have an optional else block as well. It is called for...else statement.

The else block in a for...else is executed differently depending on the present of break statement.

• If the break statement NOT is present in for loop then else block is executed when all the items in the list have been iterated; and no item is left for iteration.

  names = ["alex", "brian", "charles"]
  
  for x in names:
    print(x) 
  else:
    print("No name is left in the list") 
  

  Program output.

  alex
  brian
  charles
  No name is left in the list
  

• If the break statement is present in for loop:

  – The else block will be executed if break has not been executed because the condition for break is not not met.

  names = ["alex", "brian", "charles"]
  
  for x in names:
    print(x) 
    if x == "brian":
      break;
  else:
    print("No name is left in the list") 
  

  Program output.

  alex
  brian
  

  – The else block will NOT be executed if break has not been executed.

  names = ["alex", "brian", "charles"]
  
  for x in names:
    print(x) 
    if x == "david":
      break;
  else:
    print("No name is left in the list") 
  

  Program output.

  alex
  brian
  charles
  No name is left in the list
  

5. Looping with range() function

In Python, the for loop can be used with range() function as well. The range() generates a sequence of value starting with 0, by default.

For example, range(10) will generate numbers from 0 to 9 (10 numbers).

To generate a custom range of values, we can pass the range parameters in function range(start, stop, step_size).

range() function does not eagerly load all the values in memory. It remembers the range start, stop, step_size and generates the next number in the range on the go.

for i in range(5):
	print(i)

Program output.

0
1
2
3
4

for i in range(2, 20, 3):
	print(i)

Program output.

2
5
8
11
14
17

Drop me your questions related to python for loop and its examples.

Happy Learning !!