break, continue, and the Loop-else Clause

15 min · Beginner

Fine-tune loop execution using break and continue. Python also features a unique else clause on loops that makes search algorithms exceptionally clean.

Exiting early with break

break is a statement that ends the nearest loop at once. The program continues with the first line after that loop.

The break statement halts loop execution immediately and resumes at the statement following the loop.

Python

for n in range(1, 10):    if n == 4:        break    print(n)

Example 1 · Retry until connected

Python

for attempt in range(1, 6):    print(f"Attempt {attempt}")    if attempt == 3:        print("Connected")        break

Output

Attempt 1
Attempt 2
Attempt 3
Connected

What this code does

The loop could run 5 times, but break ends it in round 3.
Attempts 4 and 5 never happen.

The console displays 1, 2, and 3. As soon as n == 4, the loop terminates completely.

Skipping iterations with continue

continue is a statement that skips the rest of the current round and moves on to the next round of the loop.

The continue statement skips the rest of the current iteration and jumps directly to the next cycle.

Python

for num in range(1, 6):    if num % 2 == 0:        continue    print(num)

Example 2 · Skip every third order

Python

for order in range(1, 7):    if order % 3 == 0:        continue    print(f"Packing order {order}")

Output

Packing order 1
Packing order 2
Packing order 4
Packing order 5

What this code does

When order % 3 == 0 is True, continue jumps straight to the next round.
Orders 3 and 6 skip the print, so only 1, 2, 4 and 5 are packed.

Even numbers 2 and 4 are skipped, printing only odd numbers 1, 3, and 5.

Python's unique loop-else clause

Loop else is an else block attached to a for or while loop. It runs only when the loop ends normally, that is, without meeting a break.

A loop can have an else block. The else block executes only if the loop finishes normally without hitting a break.

Python

1target = "z"2for ch in "Python":3    if ch == target:4        print("Found")5        break6else:7    print("Target not found in word")

Two ways out of a loop that has an else block. If break is reached, the else block is skipped and the program continues after the loop. If the items run out without a break, the else block runs, and then the program continues after the loop.

Example 3 · No divisor found

Python

1number = 492for d in range(2, 7):3    if number % d == 0:4        print(f"{number} is divisible by {d}")5        break6else:7    print(f"{number} has no divisor from 2 to 6")

Output

49 has no divisor from 2 to 6

What this code does

49 % d is never 0 for d from 2 to 6, so break is never reached.
The loop ends normally, so the else block runs.
Only 7 divides 49, and 7 is outside the range.

Example 4 · Searching a product code

Python

1product_code = "KB-4471"2search_char = "9"3
4for ch in product_code:5    if ch == search_char:6        print(f"Found {search_char}")7        break8else:9    print(f"{search_char} is not in the code")

Output

9 is not in the code

What this code does

Visits each character of the product code.
Since '9' is not present, no break triggers.
The else branch runs and prints the not-found message.

Because no character matched target, the loop never hit break. The else block runs, printing 'Target not found in word'.

Next step

Check your understanding

10 quick questions

1product_code = "KB-4471"2search_char = "9"3 4for ch in product_code:5 if ch == search_char:6 print(f"Found {search_char}")7 break8else:9 print(f"{search_char} is not in the code")