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Break, Continue, and Pass Statements in Python Loops

Break, Continue, and Pass Statements in Python Loops
Hostman Team
Technical writer
Python
11.10.2024
Reading time: 4 min

When working with while and for loops, there are times when you need to forcefully exit the loop, skip part of the code, or ignore specific conditions. Python uses the break, continue, and pass statements to handle these cases. Let’s explore how these statements work through examples.

Break Statement

The break statement in Python is used to exit a block of code prematurely. Here’s a simple example:

for j in 'applefishorange':
    if j == 'f':
        break
    print(j)

This will produce the following output:

a
p
p
l
e

As soon as the program encounters the letter f in the sequence, the loop breaks in Python because of the break statement. Now let’s see how it works in a while loop:

x = 0
while x < 5:
    print(x)
    x += 0.5
print('Exit')

The output will look like this (truncated for brevity):

0
0.5
…
4.0
4.5
Exit

Once the condition is no longer met (when x becomes equal to 5), the Python program exits the loop. Now, let’s rewrite the code using the break statement:

x = 0
while True:
    print(x)
    if x >= 4.5:
        break
    x += 0.5
print('Exit')

The result is the same:

0
0.5
…
4.0
4.5
Exit

We assigned the value 0 to x and set the condition: as long as x is True, continue printing it. The code is slightly longer, but using break is justified in situations with complex conditions or to safeguard against infinite loops. Remove two lines from the code above:

x = 0
while True:
    print(x)
    x += 0.5
print('Exit')

And you'll get an endless output:

0
0.5
…
100
100.5
…
1000000
1000000.5
…

And the word Exit will never be printed because the loop will never end. Therefore, using break when working with number sequences helps prevent your program from getting stuck in an infinite loop.

Using Break with Else

Sometimes, you need to check if the loop completed successfully or was interrupted by a break statement in Python. For this, you can use the else clause. Let’s write a program that checks a word for forbidden characters:

word = input('Enter a word: ')
for i in word:
    if i == 'z':
        print('Loop was interrupted, the letter "z" was found')
        break
else:
    print('Loop completed successfully, no forbidden letters found')
print('Check completed')

If the user enters "Hello!", the output will be:

Loop completed successfully, no forbidden letters found
Check completed

But if the input contains the letter "z", the output will be:

Loop was interrupted, the letter "z" was found
Check completed

Explanation: The input function accepts user input (the prompt "Enter a word:" is for the user; the program would work fine with word = input() alone) and assigns it to the variable word. The for loop then iterates over each element (in this case, each letter) and checks it with the condition in the if statement.

Continue Statement

While break interrupts the loop, the continue statement in Python is more flexible — it skips certain elements in the sequence without ending the loop. Let’s write a program that "doesn’t like" the letter "z":

word = input('Enter a word: ')
for i in word:
    if i == 'z':
        continue
    print(i)

If you enter "zebra", the output will be:

e
b
r
a

This happens because we set the condition where any element with the value "z" is not printed. But the Python continue statement allows the loop to finish, printing all "allowed" elements. However, there is a small issue with the code: if the user enters "Zebra" (with an uppercase Z), the program will print the entire word because we didn’t account for the letter case:

Z
e
b
r
a

The most obvious solution here is to add the uppercase letter in the if block like this:

word = input('Enter a word: ')
for i in word:
    if i == 'z' or i == 'Z':
        continue
    print(i)

Pass Statement

The pass statement in Python allows the loop to continue regardless of any conditions. It is rarely seen in final code but is useful during development as a placeholder for code that hasn’t been written yet. For example, let’s say you need to remember to add a condition for the letter "z", but you haven't written that block yet. Here, the pass placeholder keeps the program running smoothly:

word = input('Enter a word: ')
for i in word:
    if i == 'z':
        pass
else:
    print('Loop completed, no forbidden letters found')
print('Check completed')

Now the program will run, and pass will act as a marker to remind you to add the condition later.

That’s all! We hope that break, continue, and pass in Python will soon become your reliable tools for developing interesting applications. Good luck!

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Python
11.10.2024
Reading time: 4 min

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Understanding the main() Function in Python

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All examples were executed with Python 3.10.12 on a Hostman cloud server running Ubuntu 22.04. Each script was placed in a separate .py file (e.g., script.py) and started with: python script.py The scripts are written so they can be run just as easily in any online Python compiler for quick demonstrations. What Is the main() Function in Python The simplest Python code might look like: print("Hello, world!")  # direct execution Or a script might execute statements in sequence at file level: print("Hello, world!")       # action #1 print("How are you, world?") # action #2 print("Good‑bye, world...")  # action #3 That trivial arrangement works only for the simplest scripts. As a program grows, the logic quickly becomes tangled and demands re‑organization: # function containing the program’s main logic (entry point) def main():     print("Hello, world!") # launch the main logic if __name__ == "__main__":     main()                    # call the function with the main logic With more actions the code might look like: def main(): print("Hello, world!") print("How are you, world?") print("Good‑bye, world...") if __name__ == "__main__": main() This implementation has several important aspects, discussed below. The main() Function The core program logic lives inside a separate function. 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Inside that block, you can put any code—not only the main() call: if __name__ == "__main__":     print("Any code can live here, not only main()") __name__ is one of Python’s built‑in “dunder” (double‑underscore) variables, often called magic or special. All dunder objects are defined and used internally by Python, but regular users can read them too. Depending on the context, __name__ holds: "__main__" when the module runs as a standalone script. The module’s own name when it is imported elsewhere. This lets a module discover its execution context. Advantages of Using  main() Organization Helper functions and classes, as well as the main function, are wrapped separately, making them easy to find and read. Global code is minimal—only initialization stays at file scope: def process_data(data): return [d * 2 for d in data] def main(): raw = [1, 2, 3, 4] result = process_data(raw) print("Result:", result) if __name__ == "__main__": main() A consistent style means no data manipulation happens at the file level. Even in a large script you can quickly locate the start of execution and any auxiliary sections. Isolation When code is written directly at the module level, every temporary variable, file handle, or connection lives in the global namespace, which can be painful for debugging and testing. 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14 July 2025 · 8 min to read
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Python Static Method

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Python Static Method vs Class Method Though they look similar, class and static methods in Python have different uses; so, let's now quickly review their differences. Defined inside a class, a class method is connected to that class rather than an instance. Conventionally called cls, the class itself is the first parameter; so, it can access and change class-level data. Factory patterns, alternate constructors, or any activity applicable to the class as a whole and not individual instances are often implemented via class methods. Conversely, a static method is defined within a class but does not start with either self or cls parameters. It is just a regular function that “lives” inside a class but doesn’t interact with the class or its instances. For utility tasks that are conceptually related to the class but don’t depend on its state, static methods are perfect. 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Managed solution for Backend development Example #2 Let's say we're working with a StringUtils module with a static method for checking if a string is a palindrome. The code will be: def is_palindrome(string):    return string == string[::-1] This function doesn't rely on any instance-specific data — it simply performs a check on the input. That makes it a good candidate for a static method. To organize it within a class and signal that it doesn't depend on the class state, we can use the @staticmethod decorator like this: class StringUtils:    @staticmethod    def is_palindrome(string):       return string == string[::-1] Let's enter for verification: print(StringUtils.is_palindrome("deed"))True print(StringUtils.is_palindrome("deer"))False That's correct, the first word is a palindrome, so the interpreter outputs True, but the second word is not, and we get False. So, we can call the is_palindrome method through the StringUtils class using the StringUtils.is_palindrome(string) syntax instead of importing the is_palindrome function and calling it directly. - Python static method and class instance also differ in that the static cannot affect the state of an instance. Since they do not have access to the instance, they cannot alter attribute values, which makes sense. Instance methods are how one may modify the instance state of a class. Example #3 Let's look at another example. 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Static methods are convenient as, unlike functions, they do not call for a separate import. Therefore, applying Python class static methods can help you streamline and work with your code greatly. And, as you've probably seen from the examples above, they are quite easy to master. On our app platform you can find Python applications, such as Celery, Django, FastAPI and Flask. 
16 April 2025 · 6 min to read
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Input in Python

Python provides interactive capabilities through various tools, one of which is the input() function. Its primary purpose is to receive user input. This function makes Python programs meaningful because without user interaction, applications would have limited utility. How the Python Input Works This function operates as follows: user_name = input('Enter your name: ') user_age = int(input('How old are you? ')) First, the user is asked to enter their name, then their age. Both inputs are captured using a special operator that stores the entered values in the variables user_name and user_age. These values can then be used in the program. For example, we can create an age-based access condition for a website (by converting the age input to an integer using int()) and display a welcome message using the entered name: if user_age < 18: print('Sorry, access is restricted to adults only') else: print('Welcome to the site,', user_name, '!') So, what happens when int() receives an empty value? If the user presses Enter without entering anything, let's see what happens by extending the program: user_name = input('Enter your name: ') user_age = int(input('How old are you? ')) if user_age < 18: print('Sorry, access is restricted to adults only') else: print('Welcome to the site,', user_name, '!') input('Press Enter to go to the menu') print('Welcome to the menu') Pressing Enter moves the program to the next line of code. If there is no next line, the program exits. The last line can be written as: input('Press Enter to exit') If there are no more lines in the program, it will exit. Here is the complete version of the program: user_name = input('Enter your name: ') user_age = int(input('How old are you? ')) if user_age < 18: print('Sorry, access is restricted to adults only') else: print('Welcome to the site,', user_name, '!') input('Press Enter to go to the menu') print('Welcome to the menu') input('Press Enter to exit') input('Press Enter to exit') If the user enters an acceptable age, they will see the message inside the else block. Otherwise, they will see only the if block message and the final exit prompt. The input() function is used four times in this program, and in the last two cases, it does not store any values but serves to move to the next part of the code or exit the program. input() in the Python Interpreter The above example is a complete program, but you can also execute it line by line in the Python interpreter. However, in this case, you must enter data immediately to continue: >>> user_name = input('Enter your name: ') Enter your name: Jamie >>> user_age = int(input('How old are you? ')) How old are you? 18 The code will still execute, and values will be stored in variables. This method allows testing specific code blocks. However, keep in mind that values are retained only until you exit the interactive mode. It is recommended to save your code in a .py file. Input Conversion Methods: int(), float(), split() Sometimes, we need to convert user input into a specific data type, such as an integer, a floating-point number, or a list. Integer conversion (int()) We've already seen this in a previous example: user_age = int(input('How old are you? ')) The int() function converts input into an integer, allowing Python to process it as a numeric type. By default, numbers entered by users are treated as strings, so Python requires explicit conversion. A more detailed approach would be: user_age = input('How old are you? ') user_age = int(user_age) The first method is shorter and more convenient, but the second method is useful for understanding function behavior. Floating-point conversion (float()) To convert user input into a floating-point number, use float(): height = float(input('Enter your height (e.g., 1.72): ')) weight = float(input('Enter your weight (e.g., 80.3): ')) Or using a more detailed approach: height = input('Enter your height (e.g., 1.72): ') height = float(height) weight = input('Enter your weight (e.g., 80.3): ') weight = float(weight) Now, the program can perform calculations with floating-point numbers. Converting Input into a List (split()) The split() method converts input text into a list of words: animals = input('Enter your favorite animals separated by spaces: ').split() print('Here they are as a list:', animals) Example output: Enter your favorite animals separated by spaces: cat dog rabbit fox bear Here they are as a list: ['cat', 'dog', 'rabbit', 'fox', 'bear'] Handling Input Errors Users often make mistakes while entering data or may intentionally enter incorrect characters. In such cases, incorrect input can cause the program to crash: >>> height = float(input('Enter your height (e.g., 1.72): ')) Enter your height (e.g., 1.72): 1m72 Traceback (most recent call last): File "<pyshell#2>", line 1, in <module> height = float(input('Enter your height (e.g., 1.72): ')) ValueError: could not convert string to float: '1m72' The error message indicates that Python cannot convert the string into a float. To prevent such crashes, we use the try-except block: try: height = float(input('Enter your height (e.g., 1.72): ')) except ValueError: height = float(input('Please enter your height in the correct format: ')) We can also modify our initial age-input program to be more robust: try: user_age = int(input('How old are you? ')) except ValueError: user_age = int(input('Please enter a number: ')) However, the program will still crash if the user enters incorrect data again. To make it more resilient, we can use a while loop: while True: try: height = float(input('Enter your height (e.g., 1.72): ')) break except ValueError: print('Let’s try again.') continue print('Thank you!') Here, we use a while loop with break and continue. The program works as follows: If the input is correct, the loop breaks, and the program proceeds to the final message: print('Thank you!'). If the program cannot convert input to a float, it catches an exception (ValueError) and displays the message "Let’s try again."  The continue statement prevents the program from crashing and loops back to request input again. Now, the user must enter valid data before proceeding. Here is the complete code for a more resilient program: user_name = input('Enter your name: ') while True: try: user_age = int(input('How old are you? ')) break except ValueError: print('Are you sure?') continue if user_age < 18: print('Sorry, access is restricted to adults only') else: print('Welcome to the site,', user_name, '!') input('Press Enter to go to the menu') print('Welcome to the menu') input('Press Enter to exit') This program still allows unrealistic inputs (e.g., 3 meters tall or 300 years old). To enforce realistic values, additional range checks would be needed, but that is beyond the scope of this article. 
08 April 2025 · 6 min to read

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