How to Write a for Loop in Python

What you’ll build or solve

You’ll write for loops that iterate over lists, strings, and ranges, and you’ll control the loop with clear, readable patterns.

When this approach works best

This approach works best when you need to:

• Process each item in a list, like names, prices, or tasks.
• Repeat an action a set number of times, like 10 retries or 12 months.
• Walk through text one character at a time, like counting letters.

Avoid this approach when:

• You need to repeat until a condition changes. A while loop fits better.
• You need heavy numeric loops for performance. Vectorized tools may be faster.

Prerequisites

• Python 3 installed
• You know what variables are
• You know what a list is
• You can run a short Python script

Step-by-step instructions

1) Loop through a list

Use for item in my_list: when you want each element.

names = ["Ana", "Bo", "Chen"]

for name in names:
    print(name)

Python takes each value from names and assigns it to name one by one.

2) Loop through a string

A string is iterable, so the loop gives you one character at a time.

word = "mimo"

for ch in word:
    print(ch)

Each character becomes the loop variable ch.

3) Loop a fixed number of times with range()

Use range(n) to loop from 0 up to n - 1.

for i in range(3):
    print(i)

If you want 1 to 3 instead:

for i in range(1, 4):
    print(i)

What to look for:

The end value is not included.

4) Get both index and value with enumerate()

Use this when you need positions and items.

colors = ["red", "green", "blue"]

for index, color in enumerate(colors):
    print(index, color)

If you want the counting to start at 1:

for index, color in enumerate(colors, start=1):
    print(index, color)

5) Loop through a dictionary

Use .items() to loop through key-value pairs.

prices = {"apple": 1.2, "banana": 0.8}

for item, price in prices.items():
    print(item, price)

If you only need keys, use for key in prices:.

If you only need values, use for value in prices.values():.

6) Add simple loop control with break and continue

These statements work in any loop.

numbers = [2, 5, 0, 7]

for n in numbers:
    if n == 0:
        continue
    if n == 7:
        break
    print(n)

• continue skips to the next iteration.
• break stops the loop entirely.

Examples you can copy

1) Sum numbers in a list

nums = [3, 5, 2]
total = 0

for n in nums:
    total += n

print(total)

2) Find the first matching item

names = ["Ana", "Bo", "Chen", "Dina"]
target = "Chen"
found = False

for name in names:
    if name == target:
        found = True
        break

print(found)

3) Build a new list from an old one

scores = [55, 70, 49, 88]
passing = []

for s in scores:
    if s >= 60:
        passing.append(s)

print(passing)

Common mistakes and how to fix them

Mistake 1: Forgetting the colon or indentation

You might write:

names = ["Ana", "Bo"]

for name in names
print(name)

Why it breaks:

Python requires : after the loop header and indentation for the loop body.

Correct approach:

names = ["Ana", "Bo"]

for name in names:
    print(name)

Mistake 2: Changing the list while looping over it

You might write:

nums = [1, 2, 3, 4]

for n in nums:
    if n % 2 == 0:
        nums.remove(n)

print(nums)

Why it breaks:

Removing items shifts indexes, so the loop can skip elements.

Correct approach:

Build a new list instead.

nums = [1, 2, 3, 4]
kept = []

for n in nums:
    if n % 2 != 0:
        kept.append(n)

print(kept)

Mistake 3: Off-by-one errors with range()

You might write:

for i in range(1, 3):
    print(i)

Why it breaks:

The end value is excluded, so this prints 1 and 2, not 3.

Correct approach:

for i in range(1, 4):
    print(i)

Troubleshooting

If you see IndentationError, make sure the loop body is indented consistently, either all spaces or all tabs.

If you see SyntaxError on the for line, check for a missing colon : at the end.

If your loop never stops, confirm you did not accidentally use a while loop. A for loop ends when the iterable ends.

If items seem skipped, check if you remove from the same list you are looping over. Build a new list instead.

Quick recap

• Use for item in items: to loop through a list.
• Use for ch in text: to loop through characters in a string.
• Use range() for a fixed number of repeats.
• Use enumerate() for index plus value.
• Use .items() to loop through dictionary keys and values.
• Use break to stop early and continue to skip items.