continue statement in Python

In this Python tutorial, we will learn about continue statement, and how to use this continue statement to proceed with the next iteration of a For loop, While loop, etc., with examples.

Python continue

Python continue is a loop control statement.

Python continue is used to skip further statements in a loop, and continue with the further iterations of the loop.

Syntax of continue statement

Following is the syntax of Python continue statement.

continue

Examples

1. continue statement in For loop

In the following example, we will use continue statement inside Python For loop to skip the statements inside the loop for this iterationand continue with the rest of iterations.

Python Program

for number in [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12]:
	if number==6:
		continue
	print(number)
	
print('Bye')

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Output

1
2
3
5
10
11
12
Bye

Only those statements that are after continue statement inside the loop are skipped for that specific iteration and continued with subsequent iterations.

2. continue statement in while loop

In the following example, we will use continue statement inside Python While Loop.

Python Program

i=1
while i < 11:
	if i==6:
		i=i+1
		continue
	print(i)
	i=i+1
	
print('Bye')

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Output

1
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
10
Bye

Be careful with the update before continue statement. It may result in infinite loop.

3. continue statement outside loop

In the following example, we will try to use continue statement outside for or while loop statement.

Python Program

i=1

if i==2:
	continue
	
print('Bye')

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Output

File "example1.py", line 4
    continue
    ^
SyntaxError: 'continue' not properly in loop

You will get SyntaxError with the message 'continue' not properly in loop if you try to use continue statement outside for or while loop.

Conclusion

In this Python Tutorial, we learned how to use Python continue statement with for and while loops.