Continue statement behavior in Python - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Continue statement behavior

Start Loop

↓

Check Condition

Yes↓

Check if continue condition

↓

Skip rest of loop

↓

Next iteration

↓

Condition False

↓

Exit Loop

The loop checks a condition each time. If the continue condition is met, it skips the rest of the loop body and moves to the next iteration.

Execution Sample

Python

for i in range(5):
    if i == 2:
        continue
    print(i)

This code loops from 0 to 4, but skips printing when i is 2.

Execution Table

Iteration	i	Condition i==2	Action	Output
1	0	False	Print 0	0
2	1	False	Print 1	1
3	2	True	Continue (skip print)
4	3	False	Print 3	3
5	4	False	Print 4	4
-	-	-	Loop ends (range(5) exhausted after i=4)

💡 range(5) iterates i from 0 to 4 only; after i=4, no more values, loop ends

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After 1	After 2	After 3	After 4	After 5	Final
i	-	0	1	2	3	4	4

Key Moments - 2 Insights

Why does the loop skip printing when i is 2?

Because at iteration 3 (i=2), the condition i==2 is True, so the continue statement runs, skipping the print and moving to the next iteration as shown in execution_table row 3.

Does the continue statement stop the whole loop?

No, continue only skips the rest of the current loop iteration and proceeds to the next one, as seen in execution_table rows 3 and 4.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, what is the output at iteration 3?

A 2

B 3

C No output

D Error

💡 Hint

Check the 'Output' column for iteration 3 in the execution_table.

At which iteration does the continue statement cause skipping the print?

A Iteration 3

B Iteration 2

C Iteration 1

D Iteration 4

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Condition i==2' and 'Action' columns in execution_table.

If the continue statement was removed, what would be the output at iteration 3?

A No output

B 2

C 3

D Error

💡 Hint

Without continue, the print(i) runs every iteration, see execution_table rows without skipping.

Concept Snapshot

continue statement:
- Used inside loops
- Skips rest of current iteration
- Moves to next iteration immediately
- Loop continues until condition fails
- Useful to skip specific cases without breaking loop

Full Transcript

This visual trace shows how the continue statement works in a Python for loop. The loop runs from i=0 to i=4. When i equals 2, the continue statement triggers, skipping the print statement for that iteration. The loop then continues with i=3 and onwards. Variables and outputs are tracked step-by-step to clarify how continue affects flow without stopping the entire loop.

Practice

1. What does the continue statement do inside a loop in Python?

easy

A. Exits the current function

B. Stops the entire loop immediately

C. Skips the rest of the current loop iteration and moves to the next one

D. Repeats the current iteration without moving forward

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of continue

   The continue statement tells the loop to skip the remaining code in the current iteration.

2. Step 2: Identify the loop behavior after continue

   After skipping, the loop moves to the next iteration without stopping the whole loop.

3. Final Answer:

   Skips the rest of the current loop iteration and moves to the next one -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   continue skips current step [OK]

Hint: Remember: continue skips current step, break stops loop [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing continue with break
• Thinking continue exits the function
• Assuming continue repeats the iteration

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to use continue inside a for loop?

easy

A. for i in range(5) { continue }

B. for i in range(5): continue

C. for i in range(5) continue

D. for i in range(5):
continue

Solution

1. Step 1: Check Python loop syntax

   Python requires a colon after the for statement and indentation for the loop body.

2. Step 2: Identify correct placement of continue

   continue must be inside the loop body, properly indented on the next line.

3. Final Answer:

   for i in range(5):\n continue -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Colon + indent + continue line [OK]

Hint: Use colon and indent for loop body with continue [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Missing colon after for statement
• Writing continue on same line without colon
• Using braces {} which are not Python syntax

3. What is the output of this code?

for i in range(5):
    if i == 2:
        continue
    print(i)

medium

A. 0 1 3 4

B. 0 1 2 3 4

C. 2

D. 0 1

Solution

1. Step 1: Trace loop iterations and condition

   The loop runs i from 0 to 4. When i is 2, continue skips printing.

2. Step 2: List printed values

   Values printed are 0, 1, 3, and 4 because 2 is skipped.

3. Final Answer:

   0 1 3 4 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   continue skips i=2 print [OK]

Hint: Skip printing when continue triggers, others print [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including 2 in output
• Thinking continue stops loop
• Confusing continue with break

4. Find the error in this code snippet:

i = 0
while i < 5:
    if i == 3:
        continue
    print(i)
    i += 1

medium

A. Infinite loop because i is not incremented when i == 3

B. SyntaxError due to missing colon

C. Prints numbers 0 to 4 correctly

D. TypeError because of continue in while loop

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze loop and continue effect

   When i equals 3, continue skips the rest, so i += 1 is not executed.

2. Step 2: Understand consequence

   Since i stays 3 forever, the loop never ends, causing an infinite loop.

3. Final Answer:

   Infinite loop because i is not incremented when i == 3 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   continue skips i++ causes infinite loop [OK]

Hint: Increment loop variable before continue or use else [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring that continue skips increment
• Thinking continue causes syntax error
• Assuming loop ends normally

5. You want to print all numbers from 1 to 10 except multiples of 3 using a for loop and continue. Which code correctly does this?

hard

A. for i in range(1, 11):
if i % 3 == 0:
pass
else:
print(i)

B. for i in range(1, 11):
if i % 3 == 0:
continue
print(i)

C. for i in range(1, 11):
if i % 3 == 0:
break
print(i)

D. for i in range(1, 11):
if i % 3 != 0:
continue
print(i)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the goal

   We want to skip printing numbers divisible by 3, so use continue when i % 3 == 0.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   for i in range(1, 11): if i % 3 == 0: continue print(i) skips multiples of 3 correctly and prints others. for i in range(1, 11): if i % 3 != 0: continue print(i) skips non-multiples wrongly. for i in range(1, 11): if i % 3 == 0: break print(i) breaks loop early. for i in range(1, 11): if i % 3 == 0: pass else: print(i) uses pass but prints all except multiples of 3 correctly but without continue.

3. Final Answer:

   for i in range(1, 11): if i % 3 == 0: continue print(i) -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   continue skips multiples of 3 print others [OK]

Hint: Use continue to skip unwanted cases inside loop [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using break instead of continue
• Reversing condition logic
• Not skipping multiples of 3