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Python Python Basics (2015) Shopping List App Break

Posted by Mykiel Horn
Mykiel Horn
4,014 Points

How do I break out of this for loop?

I am trying to use break in this for loop when it reaches its current item "STOP".

breaks.py 
def loopy(items):
    # Code goes here
    for thing in items:
        print(thing)
    else thing == "STOP":
        break

2 Answers

Afloarei Andrei
Afloarei Andrei
5,163 Points
Afloarei Andrei
Afloarei Andrei
5,163 Points

In you'r "for" loop you have to do "if" and "else". "if the current item from items is == to the string "STOP", break the loop" "else print current item from items"

Mykiel Horn
Mykiel Horn
4,014 Points

items = ["STOP"] def loopy(items): # Code goes here for thing in items: print(thing) if items == "STOP" : break else: print(items)

It keeps saying it didn't find the right items being printed. How can this not be right? Im confused.

Ben Moore
Ben Moore
22,588 Points
Ben Moore
Ben Moore
22,588 Points

Mykiel, your original syntax isn't structured properly. You are trying to break the loop for a specific reason. Because you are looking for 'STOP', you need to use the break with the 'if' clause. Otherwise, any combination will never fail the 'if' and move on to the 'else'. The argument provided to the 'loopy' function always passes in a specific order from 'if', then 'else', for each item in items.

Your updated syntax is still wrong. You want to replace 'print(items)' with 'print(things)' and remove the original 'print(things)' altogether above the 'if' statement. Your current syntax is printing each 'thing' before breaking. So, it will print 'STOP' before it breaks the loop.

items = ["STOP"] def loopy(items): # Code goes here for thing in items: print(thing) if items == "STOP" : break else: print(items)

Should instead try using something like the following:

items = ['stop', 'Stop', 'Go', 'GO', 'Hold', 'You shall not pass', 'STOP', 'Whoops!']

def loopy(items):
    for item in items:
        if item == 'STOP':
            break
        else:
            print(item)

loopy(items)

> stop
> Stop
> Go
> GO
> Hold
> You shall not pass

Keep in mind it is better practice to use singular ('item') and plural ('items') forms when using loops and for other individuals of a set/series usages. It makes it clearer that the item is part of the list of items.

Also note that if you are wanting to catch all instances of 'stop'/'STOP'/'Stop'/etc. (with only those four characters in order, regardless of capitalization), you could make this one change:

if item.upper() == 'STOP':

OR use this variant:

if item.lower() == 'stop':