How to Skip Iteration in For Loop Python: Simple Guide

To skip an iteration in a Python for loop, use the continue statement. When Python encounters continue, it immediately jumps to the next loop cycle, skipping the rest of the current iteration.

Syntax

The continue statement is used inside a for loop to skip the current iteration and move to the next one.

Basic syntax:

for item in iterable:
    if condition:
        continue
    # code here runs only if condition is False

Here, if condition is true, continue skips the rest of the loop body for that iteration.

python

for item in iterable:
    if condition:
        continue
    # code here runs only if condition is False

Example

This example prints numbers from 1 to 5 but skips printing number 3 by using continue.

python

for number in range(1, 6):
    if number == 3:
        continue
    print(number)

Output

1
2
4
5

Common Pitfalls

One common mistake is using continue outside a loop, which causes an error. Another is confusing continue with break. break stops the entire loop, while continue only skips the current iteration.

Wrong usage example:

if condition:
    continue  # Error: 'continue' not inside a loop

Right usage example:

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

python

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

Output

0
1
3
4

Quick Reference

Use continue to skip the rest of the current loop iteration and move to the next one.

Use break to exit the loop completely.

Statement	Effect
continue	Skip current iteration, continue with next loop cycle
break	Exit the loop completely

Key Takeaways

Use continue inside a for loop to skip the current iteration.

continue jumps immediately to the next loop cycle.

Do not use continue outside loops; it causes errors.

break stops the whole loop, unlike continue.

Place continue after the condition that decides to skip.