What are some practical use cases for while loops in programming?

What are some practical use cases for while loops in programming?

While loops are great for scenarios where you don't know the number of iterations in advance. For example, reading data until the end of a file or waiting for user input until a valid response is given.

Can you give me an example of a while loop in Python?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

count = 0
while count < 5:
    print(count)
    count += 1

This will print numbers 0 to 4.

What about using while loops for data validation?

Absolutely! You can use a while loop to repeatedly ask for user input until it meets certain criteria, ensuring valid data entry.

Are there any downsides to using while loops?

Yes, if not used carefully, while loops can lead to infinite loops if the condition never becomes false. It's important to ensure that the loop will eventually terminate.