tags: #python/documentation/python_loops

Indefinite Loops Using While

Unlike a For Loop, which executes a block of code a finite number of times. The while loop is used to execute a block a code for as long as a condition is True. We can create a while loop using the while keyword:

#count control variable

while condition_statement:
	#body of loop
	<statement>
	...
	# control statement

Count Control Variable

In a while loop, a count control variable is explicitly initialized before the loop, and the loop continues to execute as long as a specified condition is True. The count variable is typically updated within the loop body as the control statement. Depending on how this variable is defined, the loop may or may not have a fixed number of iterations.

• This is AKA "loop control variable" or "counting variable".

This variable is used to control the loop's execution based on a specified condition. The loop executes for as long as the condition associated with the loop control variable remains True.

General Structure

# Initialization of the loop control variable
count = 0

# While loop with a condition based on the loop control variable
while count < 5:
    # Code inside the loop body
    print(count)
    
    # Iteration (update) of the loop control variable
    count += 1

# Code outside the loop

Loops Without Conditions

We can run while loop without any condition using the following:

while True:
	# body of loop
	if condition
		break
	...

Instead of writing a condition after the while keyword, we just write the true value directly to indicate that the condition will always be True.

The while True loop in python will run without any conditions until the break statement executes inside the loop.