Using Loops with User Inputs in Python: A beginner’s guide

Welcome to the wonderful world of user inputs with loops in Python! In this article, we’ll be covering some key points that will help you understand how to use loops to get user input in Python. But don’t worry, I’ll keep it light and fun — because learning to code should be enjoyable!

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Here are the key points we’ll be covering:

• What is a loop?
• How to get user input with a for loop
• How to get user input with a while loop
• Tips for using loops to get user input in Python

But before we dive into all of that, let’s start with a quick introduction to loops in Python.

What is a loop?

At its simplest, a loop is a way to repeat a set of instructions over and over again. This can be really useful when you want to perform the same task multiple times without having to write the same code over and over again.

In Python, there are two types of loops that are commonly used to get user input: the for loop and the while loop. Let’s take a closer look at each of these.

How to get user input with a for loop

A for loop is a type of loop that allows you to iterate over a sequence of items. This means that you can use a for loop to loop through a list of items and perform the same set of instructions on each item in the list.

Here’s an example of how you might use a for loop to get user input in Python:

names = []
for i in range(3):
    name = input("Enter a name: ")
    names.append(name)
print(names)

In this example, we start by creating an empty list called names. Then, we use a for loop to iterate over a range of numbers (in this case, we're using the range (3), which will give us a sequence of numbers from 0 to 2).

Inside the for loop, we use the input() function to get user input. The input() function will display the string "Enter a name: " and then wait for the user to enter some text. When the user enters some text and hits the enter key, the input() function will return the text that the user entered.

In this example, we store the user’s input in a variable called name, and then we use the append() method to add the name to our names list. This means that each time the for loop runs, we'll add a new name to our list.

Finally, after the for loop has finished running, we use the print() function to print out the names list, which should now contain all of the names that the user entered.

How to get user input with a while loop

A while loop is a type of loop that will continue to run as long as a certain condition is true. This means that you can use a while loop to keep asking the user for input until they enter the correct information, or until they tell you to stop asking.

Here’s an example of how you might use a while loop to get user input in Python:

name = ""
while name != "stop":
    name = input("Enter a name (or 'stop' to quit): ")
    if name != "stop":
        print("Thanks for the name, " + name + "!")

In this example, we start by creating a variable called `name and initializing it to an empty string. Then, we use a while loop to keep running as long as the name variable is not equal to the string "stop".

Inside the while loop, we use the input() function to get user input. Just like in the previous example, this will display the string "Enter a name (or 'stop' to quit): " and wait for the user to enter some text. If the user enters "stop", the while loop will stop running.

However, if the user enters anything other than “stop”, we use an if statement to check if the name variable is not equal to "stop". If it's not, then we use the print() function to print out a message thanking the user for the name they entered.

Tips for using loops to get user input in Python

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when using loops to get user input in Python:

• Make sure to indent your code correctly. In Python, indentation is used to indicate which lines of code belong inside a loop, and which lines of code should be executed after the loop has finished running. If your indentation is incorrect, your code may not run as expected.
• Use clear and concise instructions when asking the user for input. The input() function will display whatever string you provide, so make sure to use a message that clearly explains what you want the user to enter.
• Test your code to make sure it works as expected. Once you’ve written your code, try running it and entering different kinds of input to see how your code behaves. This will help you catch any mistakes and make sure your code is working as intended.

We hope you enjoyed this article on user inputs with loops in Python! This article is part of our Python beginners series, so be sure to check out the rest of the series here. Happy coding!

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