while loop with else in Python

What is while...else in Python? In Python, a while loop can have an else block, which executes after the loop finishes normally — i.e., when the condition becomes False (not when the loop breaks).
So: • ✅ The else part runs if the loop completes all iterations normally
• ❌ The else part does not run if the loop is exited using break

Syntax

while condition:
    # loop body
else:
    # code that runs when loop ends normally

Explanation:

condition: A boolean expression (True or False).
The loop runs while the condition is True.
Once the condition becomes False, the loop stops.

Example: Normal loop completion (else executes). We can add an else block that runs when the loop finishes normally (not via break).

Python

# Initialize counter
count = 1

while count <= 3:
    print("Count:", count)
    count = count + 1
else:
    print("Loop finished successfully!")

Output: Count: 1
Count: 2
Count: 3
Loop finished successfully!

Explanation:

count starts at 1.
The loop runs while count <= 3.
After count becomes 4, the condition is False.
The loop ends normally, so the else block executes.

Example: Using break (else does NOT execute).

Python

count = 1

while count <= 5:
    print("Count:", count)
    if count == 3:
        break   # Exit loop early
    count = count + 1
else:
    print("Loop finished successfully!")

Output: Count: 1
Count: 2
Count: 3

Explanation:

The loop stops when count == 3 due to break.
Because the loop didn’t finish normally, the else block did not run.

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