a basic question about while true

0 votes

level: beginner

def play_game(word_list):
    hand = deal_hand(HAND_SIZE) # random init
    while True:
        cmd = raw_input('Enter n to deal a new hand, r to replay the last hand, or e to end game: ')
        if cmd == 'n':
            hand = deal_hand(HAND_SIZE)
            play_hand(hand.copy(), word_list)
            print
        elif cmd == 'r':
            play_hand(hand.copy(), word_list)
            print
        elif cmd == 'e':
            break
        else:
            print "Invalid command."

my question: while WHAT is True?

i reckon saying 'while true' is shorthand but for what? while the variable 'hand' is being assigned a value? and what if the variable 'hand' is not being assigned a value?

Jun 4, 2018 in Python by charlie_brown
• 7,720 points
5,267 views

1 answer to this question.

0 votes
while True means loop forever. The while statement takes an expression and executes the loop body while the expression evaluates to (boolean) "true". True always evaluates to boolean "true" and thus executes the loop body indefinitely. It's an idiom that you'll just get used to eventually! Most languages you're likely to encounter have equivalent idioms.

Note that most languages usually have some mechanism for breaking out of the loop early. In the case of Python it's the break statement in the cmd == 'e' case of the sample in your question.
answered Jun 4, 2018 by aryya
• 7,450 points

Related Questions In Python

0 votes
1 answer

A basic question about “while true”

while True means loop forever. The while ...READ MORE

answered Aug 8, 2018 in Python by bug_seeker
• 15,520 points
482 views
0 votes
1 answer

.What is the meaning of "while True :" while doing in a loop.

The body of the loop will continue ...READ MORE

answered Oct 7, 2020 in Python by Gitika
• 65,910 points
425 views
0 votes
1 answer

Return a list inside a for loop while iterating over the elements of another list

The print() is getting called multiple times ...READ MORE

answered Sep 22, 2018 in Python by SDeb
• 13,300 points
4,651 views
0 votes
1 answer

Question on PyQt: How to connect a signal to a slot to start a background operation in Python

It shouldn't matter whether the connection is ...READ MORE

answered Nov 27, 2018 in Python by Nymeria
• 3,560 points
1,525 views
0 votes
1 answer

Error while converting a list into a numpy array

The only possible reason I could think ...READ MORE

answered Jun 14, 2019 in Python by Rhea
2,347 views
0 votes
0 answers

What is the use of cursor while querying a sqlite database?

I am completely new to sqlite, and ...READ MORE

Jul 4, 2019 in Python by Waseem
• 4,540 points
309 views
0 votes
1 answer
0 votes
0 answers

How do you use an else clause in a while loop in python?

Can you give an example? READ MORE

Aug 5, 2019 in Python by Waseem
• 4,540 points
391 views
0 votes
1 answer

How to get the size of a string in Python?

If you are talking about the length ...READ MORE

answered Jun 4, 2018 in Python by aryya
• 7,450 points
1,065 views
0 votes
1 answer

How to sort a list of strings?

Basic answer: mylist = ["b", "C", "A"] mylist.sort() This modifies ...READ MORE

answered Jun 4, 2018 in Python by aryya
• 7,450 points
1,227 views
webinar REGISTER FOR FREE WEBINAR X
REGISTER NOW
webinar_success Thank you for registering Join Edureka Meetup community for 100+ Free Webinars each month JOIN MEETUP GROUP