While–else behavior in Python - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of while–else with break

What is the output of this Python code?

Python

i = 0
while i < 3:
    if i == 1:
        break
    print(i)
    i += 1
else:
    print('Done')

A 0\n1

B 0\nDone

C 0\n1\nDone

D 0

💡 Hint

Remember that the else block runs only if the loop completes without break.

The loop breaks when i == 1, so the else block does not run. Only 0 is printed.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

While–else without break

What will this code print?

Python

count = 0
while count < 2:
    print(count)
    count += 1
else:
    print('Finished')

A 0\n1\nFinished

B 0\n1

C Finished

D 0\nFinished

💡 Hint

The else block runs only if the loop ends normally without break.

The loop runs twice printing 0 and 1, then else prints 'Finished'.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

While–else with continue and break

What is the output of this code?

Python

n = 0
while n < 4:
    n += 1
    if n == 2:
        continue
    if n == 3:
        break
    print(n)
else:
    print('Loop ended')

A 1\n4\nLoop ended

B 1

C 1\nLoop ended

D 2

💡 Hint

Check how continue skips printing and break stops the loop.

When n==2, continue skips print. When n==3, break stops loop before print. Only 1 is printed.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

While–else with nested loops and break

What does this code print?

Python

x = 0
while x < 3:
    y = 0
    while y < 3:
        if x == y:
            break
        print(f'{x},{y}')
        y += 1
    else:
        print('Inner done')
    x += 1
else:
    print('Outer done')

A Outer done

B 0,0\n1,0\n1,1\n2,0\n2,1\n2,2\nInner done\nOuter done

C 1,0\n2,0\n2,1\nOuter done

D 0,0\n1,0\n2,0\n2,1\nInner done\nOuter done

💡 Hint

Remember break exits the inner loop and else runs only if no break.

Inner loop breaks when x == y, so inner else never runs. Outer loop ends normally, so outer else runs.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Understanding while–else behavior

Which statement about the while–else construct in Python is correct?

A The else block runs only if the while loop completes without encountering a break statement.

B The else block runs only if the while loop contains a continue statement.

C The else block runs every time after the while loop, regardless of break.

D The else block runs only if the while loop is skipped entirely.

💡 Hint

Think about when else runs in loops with break.

The else block runs only if the loop finishes normally without break.