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.