Python Reference Manual

Previous: 7.1 The if statement Up: 7. Compound statements Next: 7.3 The for statement

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7.2 The while statement

The while statement is used for repeated execution as long as an expression is true:

while_stmt	::=	"while" expression ":" suite
		["else" ":" suite]

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This repeatedly tests the expression and, if it is true, executes the first suite; if the expression is false (which may be the first time it is tested) the suite of the else clause, if present, is executed and the loop terminates.  

A break statement executed in the first suite terminates the loop without executing the else clause's suite. A continue statement executed in the first suite skips the rest of the suite and goes back to testing the expression.   

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Python Reference Manual

Previous: 7.1 The if statement Up: 7. Compound statements Next: 7.3 The for statement

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Release 2.3, documentation updated on July 29, 2003.