Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Python Basics (2015) Shopping List App Break

Posted by Sabaa Talal
Sabaa Talal
Courses Plus Student 733 Points

how to break from function using if .

(I need to break out of the loop when the current item is the string "STOP". Help me add that code!) I tried many ways but all failed here is one of my trying answers can you help me figure out what is wrong with it.

breaks.py 
def loopy(items):
    # Code goes here

    for thing in items:
        print (thing) 
    if thing == 'STOP'
        break

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,236 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,236 Points

The code above does not test for "STOP" until after the loop prints every item. But you could move the test inside the loop, and do it before you print each word. Remember that besides line order, anything inside a loop will be indented more than the "for" line. And don't forget to put a colon after your "if" statement.

Ezra Siton
Ezra Siton
12,644 Points
Ezra Siton
Ezra Siton
12,644 Points

two syntax errors:

  1. You forgot the ":" in the "if" statement
  2. Indentation problem - the "if" is outside the for loop

SyntaxError: 'break' outside loop

Now :) After fixing 1+2 the code will work fine but "STOP" print anyway before the break (not like the instructions told you):

def loopy(items):
    # Code goes here
    for thing in items:
      print (thing) 
      if thing == 'STOP':
        break

list = ['apples', 'pears', 'STOP', 'peaches', 'beer']

loopy(list)
# return:  apples   pears   STOP

To fix this you should replace the order ("if" than print)

def loopy(items):
    # Code goes here
    for thing in items:
      if thing == 'STOP':
        break
      print (thing) 

list = ['apples', 'pears', 'STOP', 'peaches', 'beer']

loopy(list)
# return:  apples   pears   ..... misson pass :)

Also, you must use python compiler to learn more about Python (see the errors. test the function results and so on)

https://repl.it/JytZ