Python Tutorial

Python continue keyword is used to skip the remaining statements of the current loop and go to the next iteration. In Python, loops repeat processes on their own in an efficient way. However, there might be occasions when we wish to leave the current loop entirely, skip iteration, or dismiss the condition controlling the loop.

We use Loop control statements in such cases. The continue keyword is a loop control statement that allows us to change the loop's control. Both Python while and Python for loops can leverage the continue statements.

Syntax:

Python Continue Statements in for Loop

Printing numbers from 10 to 20 except 15 can be done using continue statement and for loop. The following code is an example of the above scenario:

Code

# Python code to show example of continue statement
 
# looping from 10 to 20
for iterator in range(10, 21):
 
    # If iterator is equals to 15, loop will continue to the next iteration
    if iterator == 15:
        continue
    # otherwise printing the value of iterator
    print( iterator )

Output:

Explanation: We will execute a loop from 10 to 20 and test the condition that the iterator is equal to 15. If it equals 15, we'll employ the continue statement to skip to the following iteration displaying any output; otherwise, the loop will print the result.

Python Continue Statements in while Loop

Code

# Creating a string
string = "JavaTpoint"
# initializing an iterator
iterator = 0
 
# starting a while loop                 
while iterator < len(string):
    # if loop is at letter a it will skip the remaining code and go to next iteration
    if string[iterator] == 'a':  
        continue  
    # otherwise it will print the letter
    print(string[ iterator ])
    iterator += 1

Output:

J
v
T
p
o
i
n
t

Explanation: We will take a string "Javatpoint" and print each letter of the string except "a". This time we will use Python while loop to do so. Until the value of the iterator is less than the string's length, the while loop will keep executing.

Python Continue statement in list comprehension

Let's see the example for continue statement in list comprehension.

Code

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

# Using a list comprehension with continue
sq_num = [num ** 2 for num in numbers if num % 2 == 0]
# This will skip odd numbers and only square the even numbers
print(sq_num)

Output:

[4, 16, 36, 64, 100]

Explanation: In the above code, list comprehension will square the numbers from the list. And continue statement will be encountered when odd numbers come and the loop will skip the execution and moves to the next iterartion.

Python Continue vs. Pass

Usually, there is some confusion in the pass and continue keywords. So here are the differences between these two.

Headings	continue	pass
Definition	The continue statement is utilized to skip the current loop's remaining statements, go to the following iteration, and return control to the beginning.	The pass keyword is used when a phrase is necessary syntactically to be placed but not to be executed.
Action	It takes the control back to the start of the loop.	Nothing happens if the Python interpreter encounters the pass statement.
Application	It works with both the Python while and Python for loops.	It performs nothing; hence it is a null operation.
Syntax	It has the following syntax: -: continue	Its syntax is as follows:- pass
Interpretation	It's mostly utilized within a loop's condition.	During the byte-compile stage, the pass keyword is removed.