How to get out of loop or skip loop in Python

I want to stop "for loop" when it matches specific condition. How can I do it ?

Python is one of the easiest programming languages to learn.

Same as other languages, Python also has loop procedure.

Loop continues until loop count or element reaches to end.

But if we achieve the purpose, we would like to stop loop.

And we may not want to process some data.

In that case, what should we do ?

So today I will introduce ”How to get out of loop or skip loop in Python”.

Author

Mid-carieer engineer (AI, system). Good at Python and SQL. Through system engineer experience, I also have a lot of knowledge like server.

for loop in Python

First, write "for loop" in Python.

# normal loop
for i in range(0,3):
    print("i:{}".format(i))
    for j in range(0, 2):
        print("  j:{}".format(j))

# i:0
#   j:0
#   j:1
# i:1
#   j:0
#   j:1
# i:2
#   j:0
#   j:1

This case I prepared double loop.

Accoording to document, we can write other type of loop.

Then how can I stop or skip loop ?

I'll tell you in next paragraph.

How to get out of loop in Python

In order to get out of loop in Python, use break.

You can use break like below.

# break loop1
for i in range(0,3):
    print("i:{}".format(i))
    if i == 1:
        print("break")
        break
    for j in range(0, 2):
        print("  j:{}".format(j))

# i:0
#   j:0
#   j:1
# i:1
# break

In previous code, we could see the step i=2.

But this case, break is used in step i=1.

So the loop was stopped.

If we break in second loop, what will happen ?

So let's try it.

What will happen if we break in second loop.

If we do, we can see the result below.

# break loop2
for i in range(0,3):
    print("i:{}".format(i))
    for j in range(0, 2):
        print("  j:{}".format(j))
        if j == 0:
            print("break")
            break

# i:0
#   j:0
# break
# i:1
#   j:0
# break
# i:2
#   j:0
# break

I put break in loop j.

So the loopwas stopped in step j=0.

And loop i seems continued.

So it means that break stops nearest loop.

How to skip loop iteration in Python

Then how can we skip loop iteration in Python ?

You can use continue to do it.

# skip loop
for i in range(0,3):
    print("i:{}".format(i))
    if i == 1:
        print("continue")
        continue
    for j in range(0, 2):
        print("  j:{}".format(j))

# i:0
#   j:0
#   j:1
# i:1
# continue
# i:2
#   j:0
#   j:1

With using continue, we skipped loop iteration of i=1.

And the loop continued and executed loop iteration of i=2.

Like this, we can use continue to skip loop iteration that matches specific condition.

Finally

Today I introduced ”How to get out of loop or skip loop in Python”.

In order to control loop, we can use these methods.

There is document about loop control.

If you want to know more, it is good to read it.