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Python continue Statement

Learn how to use Python's continue statement to skip current loop iterations while maintaining loop execution in for and while loops.

continue Statement

Python's continue statement skips the current iteration of a loop and continues with the next iteration.

Continue in for and while Loop

The continue statement is used to skip the rest of the code inside a loop for the current iteration only.

The loop continues with the next iteration.

For example, continue the loop at yellow:

For Looppython
colors = ['red', 'green', 'yellow', 'blue']
for x in colors:
    if x == 'yellow':
        continue
    print(x)

Output

red
green
blue
While Looppython
colors = ['red', 'green', 'yellow', 'blue']
i = 0
while i < len(colors):
    i = i + 1
    if colors[i-1] == 'yellow':
        continue
    print(colors[i-1])

Output

red
green
blue

Continue inside try-finally Block

If you have a try-finally block within a for or while statement, after the continue statement is executed, the finally clause is executed before starting the next iteration.

For example, a try…finally block in a for loop:

For Looppython
for x in range(3):
  try:
      print('trying...')
      continue
      print('still trying...')
  except:
      print('Something went wrong.')
  finally:
      print('Done!')
print('The end.')

Output

trying...
Done!
trying...
Done!
trying...
Done!
The end.

For example, a try…finally block in a for loop:

While Looppython
i = 0
while i<3:
  try:
      print('trying...')
      i = i + 1
      continue
      print('still trying...')
  except:
      print('Something went wrong.')
  finally:
      print('Done!')
print('The end.')

Output

trying...
Done!
trying...
Done!
trying...
Done!
The end.
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