Else clause on Python while statement

Question

I\'ve noticed the following code is legal in Python. My question is why? Is there a specific reason?

n = 5
while n != 0:
    print n
    n -= 1
else:
    pri         


        

Answer 1

My answer will focus on WHEN we can use while/for-else.

At the first glance, it seems there is no different when using

while CONDITION:
    EXPRESSIONS
print 'ELSE'
print 'The next statement'

and

while CONDITION:
    EXPRESSIONS
else:
    print 'ELSE'
print 'The next statement'

Because the print 'ELSE' statement seems always executed in both cases (both when the while loop finished or not run).

Then, it's only different when the statement print 'ELSE' will not be executed. It's when there is a breakinside the code block under while

In [17]: i = 0

In [18]: while i < 5:
    print i
    if i == 2:
        break
    i = i +1
else:
    print 'ELSE'
print 'The next statement'
   ....:
0
1
2
The next statement

If differ to:

In [19]: i = 0

In [20]: while i < 5:
    print i
    if i == 2:
        break
    i = i +1
print 'ELSE'
print 'The next statement'
   ....:
0
1
2
ELSE
The next statement

return is not in this category, because it does the same effect for two above cases.

exception raise also does not cause difference, because when it raises, where the next code will be executed is in exception handler (except block), the code in else clause or right after the while clause will not be executed.