Python Loops Explained for Beginners (for loop and while loop)

Introduction

In the previous post, we learned about conditional statements. Now let’s learn how to repeat tasks using loops.

Loops help us execute the same block of code multiple times without writing it again.

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What is a Loop?

A loop is used to repeat a block of code until a condition is satisfied.

Loops save time, reduce code length, and make programs efficient.

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1️⃣ for Loop

The for loop is used when we know how many times the loop should run.

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

Output:

0
1
2
3
4

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Understanding range()

The range() function generates a sequence of numbers.

range(5)      # 0 to 4
range(1, 6)   # 1 to 5
range(1, 10, 2)  # 1, 3, 5, 7, 9

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for Loop with String

You can also use a for loop to iterate over a string.

name = "Python"

for ch in name:
    print(ch)

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2️⃣ while Loop

The while loop runs as long as the condition is True.

i = 1

while i <= 5:
    print(i)
    i = i + 1

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Difference Between for and while Loop

• for loop → Used when the number of iterations is known
• while loop → Used when the condition decides repetition

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Using break Statement

The break statement stops the loop immediately.

for i in range(10):
    if i == 5:
        break
    print(i)

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Using continue Statement

The continue statement skips the current iteration.

for i in range(5):
    if i == 2:
        continue
    print(i)

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Real-Life Example

Print numbers from 1 to 10 using a loop.

for i in range(1, 11):
    print(i)

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Common Beginner Mistakes

• Forgetting to update the condition in while loop
• Wrong indentation
• Infinite loop

Always make sure the loop condition becomes False at some point.

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What You Learned in This Post

• What loops are
• for loop and while loop
• break and continue

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What’s Next?

Now that you understand loops, let’s learn about Python functions.

Next Post: Python Functions Explained for Beginners

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👋 About the Author

Ayush Gupta
MSc AI/ML Student | Machine Learning & Python Enthusiast

📧 Email: aygupta9898@gmail.com