Is there a difference between `continue` and `pass` in a for loop in python?

python syntax continue
Aufwind picture Aufwind · Feb 28, 2012 · Viewed 179.3k times · Source

Is there any significant difference between the two python keywords continue and pass like in the examples

for element in some_list:
    if not element:
        pass

and

for element in some_list:
    if not element:
        continue

I should be aware of?

Answer

Sven Marnach picture Sven Marnach · Feb 28, 2012

Yes, they do completely different things. pass simply does nothing, while continue goes on with the next loop iteration. In your example, the difference would become apparent if you added another statement after the if: After executing pass, this further statement would be executed. After continue, it wouldn't.

>>> a = [0, 1, 2]
>>> for element in a:
...     if not element:
...         pass
...     print element
... 
0
1
2
>>> for element in a:
...     if not element:
...         continue
...     print element
... 
1
2

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