Skip to main content

Python continue Statement

continue Statement​

Python's continue statement skips the current iteration of a loop and continues with the next iteration.

note

In contrast to the break statement, the loop does not end, but continues with the next iteration.

Continue in for and while Loop​

The continue statement is used to skip the rest of the code inside a loop for the current iteration only.

The loop continues with the next iteration.

For example, continue the loop at yellow:

For Loop
colors = ['red', 'green', 'yellow', 'blue']
for x in colors:
    if x == 'yellow':
        continue
    print(x)

Output

red
green
blue
While Loop
colors = ['red', 'green', 'yellow', 'blue']
i = 0
while i < len(colors):
    i = i + 1
    if colors[i-1] == 'yellow':
        continue
    print(colors[i-1])

Output

red
green
blue

Continue inside try-finally Block​

If you have a try-finally block within a for or while statement, after the continue statement is executed, the finally clause is executed before starting the next iteration.

For example, a try…finally block in a for loop:

For Loop
for x in range(3):
  try:
      print('trying...')
      continue
      print('still trying...')
  except:
      print('Something went wrong.')
  finally:
      print('Done!')
print('The end.')

Output

trying...
Done!
trying...
Done!
trying...
Done!
The end.

For example, a try…finally block in a for loop:

While Loop
i = 0
while i<3:
  try:
      print('trying...')
      i = i + 1
      continue
      print('still trying...')
  except:
      print('Something went wrong.')
  finally:
      print('Done!')
print('The end.')

Output

trying...
Done!
trying...
Done!
trying...
Done!
The end.

Table of Contents