Friday Finking: Contorted loops

[Avi Gross]

So why use the word "else" when it really does not mean what users consider
else?

Again, we have words like "finally" used in some places to mean it should be
done no matter what, like closing a file that may be open.

What phrase used either in one or all contexts might have been better, if
longer?

I mean in the case where your while is NOT entered, "else" almost makes
sense. But it could also have been loop_skipped or something.

In other cases, it could be some name like "loop_completed_normally" or
whatever.

Reusing the keyword "else" over and over for "if" statements and perhaps
some kind of case/switch statement and while loops and so on, may be
parsimonious but   ...


-----Original Message-----
From: Python-list <python-list-bounces+avigross=verizon.net at python.org> On
Behalf Of Alan Gauld via Python-list
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2021 11:58 AM
To: python-list at python.org
Subject: Re: Friday Finking: Contorted loops

On 10/09/2021 16:36, MRAB wrote:

>> while...else...
>>
>> executes the else if the body of the loop does NOT get executed.
>>
>> for...else...
>>
>> executes the else iff ALL iterations of the for loop DO complete.
>>
> [snip]
> 
> In both cases, it executes the 'else' part if it didn't break out of 
> the loop. That's it.

OK, That's a useful perspective that is at least consistent.

Unfortunately it's not how beginners perceive it and it causes regular
confusion about how/when they should use else with a loop.

--
Alan G
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/
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