How can I skip to the next iteration in Python when an exception occurs in a loop?
I have a loop running, and there is a possibility of exceptions being raised inside the loop. Naturally, this would stop the program altogether. To prevent that, I catch the exceptions and handle them. However, the rest of the iteration continues even after an exception occurs. Is there a keyword I can use in the except clause to skip the remainder of the current iteration and move to the next one?
Certainly! To python skip to next iteration, you can use the continue keyword inside the except block. It allows the loop to move to the next iteration without executing the rest of the current iteration’s code. Here’s an example with a for loop:
for item in range(10):
try:
if item == 5:
raise ValueError("An error occurred")
print(f"Processing item {item}")
except ValueError as e:
print(f"Caught an error: {e}")
continue # Skip to the next iteration
This ensures that when an exception is encountered, the program continues smoothly with the next item in the loop. Simple and effective! 
Great point, Akansha! Expanding on that, the same logic works beautifully in a while loop too. When working with dynamic or conditional loops, you can handle exceptions similarly by incrementing the counter in the except block before using continue. This helps to python skip to next iteration when exceptions occur. Here’s an example:
count = 0
while count < 10:
try:
if count == 3:
raise KeyError("An error occurred")
print(f"Processing count {count}")
count += 1
except KeyError as e:
print(f"Caught an error: {e}")
count += 1 # Skip to the next iteration
continue
Notice how count += 1 is used in the except block to avoid an infinite loop. Perfect for scenarios needing extra flexibility!
Both great examples! Another way to achieve the same goal is by wrapping exception-prone code inside a function and calling it within the loop. This approach keeps the loop cleaner and makes it easy to reuse or test the function separately. Of course, if an exception occurs, you can use continue to ensure the loop moves forward—just like in previous examples. Here’s how you could do it:
def process_item(item):
if item == 7:
raise IndexError("Simulated error")
print(f"Item {item} processed")
for i in range(10):
try:
process_item(i)
except IndexError as e:
print(f"Error processing item {i}: {e}")
continue # Skip to the next iteration
By modularizing the logic, you keep your main loop focused and easily manage exceptions. Perfect for complex workflows where reusable functions are key!