BEGINNER SERIES · SESSION 3

Python
Control Flow
for Beginners
if / elif / else for loops while loops break / continue

Make your programs think and repeat — like a real programmer!

Python Programming · Control Flow · Conditionals · Loops · Loop Control

 What is Control Flow? while Loops

01 04
Decision-making in programs Repeat while condition is True

WHAT
WE'LL if / elif / else break / continue / pass

COVER 02
Conditional branching
05
Loop control statements

Python Control Flow

for Loops Nested Control Flow

03 06
Iterating over sequences Loops inside loops & more
01 What is Control Flow?

Control Flow is the order in which Python executes statements. Instead of running top-to-bottom always, programs can make
decisions and repeat actions.

Without Control Flow With Conditionals With Loops

Line 1: print('Hi') age >= 18? for i in range(3):

↓
print(i) # 0
Line 2: print('Bye') YES NO
↓ print(i) # 1
Line 3: print('Done') 'Adult' 'Minor'

print(i) # 2

↻ repeats automatically
02 if / elif / else — Conditional Statements

if elif else
Runs if condition is True Else-if: another condition Runs if nothing else matched

[Link] Rules & Tips

score = 75 1️⃣ if is REQUIRED — always first

if score >= 90: 2️⃣ elif is OPTIONAL — use 0 or many

print('Grade: A ')
3️⃣ else is OPTIONAL — must be last
elif score >= 75:
print('Grade: B ') Always indent body 4 spaces
elif score >= 60:
print('Grade: C ') End condition with colon :
else:
Only first True block runs
print('Grade: F ')

Combine with: and, or, not

# Output: Grade: B
02+ Operators Used in Conditions

Comparison Operators Logical Operators

x == y Equal to 5 == 5 → True BOTH conditions True

and age>18 and citizen

x != y Not equal to 5 != 3 → True → True only if both

x > y Greater than 7 > 4 → True AT LEAST one True

or sun or umbrella

x < y Less than 3 < 8 → True → True if either

x >= y Greater than or equal 5 >= 5 → True FLIPS True False

not not is_raining

x <= y Less than or equal 4 <= 7 → True → inverts result

03 for Loops — Iterate Over Sequences

for item in sequence : # indented body runs each iteration

keyword loop var keyword iterable

Loop over a list range() function Loop over a string

fruits = ['apple','mango'] for i in range(5): for ch in "Hello":

for fruit in fruits: print(i) print(ch)

print(fruit)

# 0 1 2 3 4 # H e l l o

# apple

# mango range(1, 6) → 1..5 # Each char one turn

03+ The range() Function — Your Loop Counter

range(stop) range(start, stop)

range(5) range(2, 7)

→ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 → 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Starts at 0 by default Custom start point

range(start,stop,step) range(step negative)

range(0,10,2) range(5, 0, -1)

→ 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 → 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Count by 2s (step) Count DOWN!

Tip: range() generates numbers on-the-fly — it doesn't create a list in memory, making it very efficient for large counts!
04 while Loops — Repeat Until Condition is False

while condition : # body runs again and again while condition stays True

while_counter.py while_input.py

# Count from 1 to 5 # Keep asking until correct

count = 1 password = ""

while count <= 5: while password != "secret":

print(count) password = input(
count += 1 # MUST update! "Enter password: ")

# 1 print(" Access granted!")

# 2
# 3 4 5 # for vs while:
# for → known iterations
# Forget count+=1? # while → unknown iterations
# → INFINITE LOOP!
05 break / continue / pass — Loop Control

break continue pass

EXITS the loop immediately SKIPS current iteration DOES NOTHING (placeholder)

Stop when target found Jump over certain items Empty block to avoid errors

for n in range(10): for n in range(6): for n in range(5):

if n == 5: if n == 3: if n == 2:

break continue pass # TODO later

print(n) print(n) print(n)

# 0 1 2 3 4 # 0 1 2 4 5 # 0 1 2 3 4

# stops at 5! # skips 3! # all print — pass silent!

 Nested Control Flow — Loops & Conditions inside each
06 other

Nested for Loops if inside for — Filter Pattern

# Multiplication table students = [

for i in range(1, 4): ('Alice', 88),
for j in range(1, 4): ('Bob', 62),
print(i*j, end=' ') ('Carol', 95),
print() # new line ]

# Output: for name, score in students:

# 1 2 3 if score >= 80:
# 2 4 6 print(name, "→ Pass ")
# 3 6 9 else:
print(name, "→ Fail ")
# Outer loop → rows (i)
# Inner loop → cols (j) # Alice → Pass
# Bob → Fail
 Python Control Flow — Quick Reference Cheatsheet

if / elif / else for Loops while Loops break/continue/pass

if condition: for i in range(5): x = 0 for i in range(10):

# True block print(i) # 0-4 while x < 5: if i == 5:

elif other_cond: for x in my_list: print(x) break # exit

# elif block print(x) x += 1 if i == 3:

else: for c in "hello": # Always update var! continue # skip

# fallback print(c) # Unknown iterations if i == 1:

# Only 1 block runs # Known iterations # → use while pass # noop

Always indent with 4 spaces · Always end conditions with a colon : · Always update variables in while loops
What You Learned Today!

if / elif / else
What's Next?
Make decisions — run different code based on conditions

→ Functions (def)
for Loops
Iterate over lists, strings, range() — known iterations → List Comprehensions

→ Error Handling
while Loops
Repeat while a condition holds — unknown iteration count
→ File I/O

break / continue / pass → Modules & Libraries

Control exactly how your loops behave mid-execution

→ Object-Oriented Python

Nested Control Flow

Combine loops and conditions for powerful programs

Practice on [Link] · [Link] · [Link]/python · [Link]