Final answer:
The while loop in Python is used when the exact number of repetitions is unknown and an action needs to be repeated as long as a certain condition remains true. It is different from a for loop, which is used for a known number of iterations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The while loop in Python should be used when the exact number of repetitions is unknown and you want to repeat an action as long as a certain condition is true. It is particularly useful in situations where you cannot determine in advance how many times the loop should run, for example, when reading lines from a file until reaching the end of the file.
Contrary to a for loop, which is typically used when the number of iterations is known or defined by a range, the while loop keeps executing its block of code as long as the condition remains true. As soon as the condition evaluates to false, the loop terminates.
Examples of using a while loop in Python:
Asking a user for input repetitively until they provide a valid response.
- Waiting for a specific event to occur, such as a file to become available or a condition to be met within a system or process.