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How to make a function run a certain amount of times Python?

Published in Python Programming 3 mins read

To make a function run a certain amount of times in Python, you typically use a for loop in conjunction with the range() function. The range() function generates a sequence of numbers, and the for loop iterates through this sequence, executing the function in each iteration.

Using a for loop with range()

The range() function is key here. It can be used in a few different ways:

  • range(stop): Generates numbers from 0 up to (but not including) stop.
  • range(start, stop): Generates numbers from start up to (but not including) stop.
  • range(start, stop, step): Generates numbers from start up to (but not including) stop, incrementing by step.

Here's how you can use it to execute a function a specific number of times:

def my_function():
    print("This function is running!")

# Run my_function 5 times
for i in range(5):  # equivalent to range(0, 5)
    my_function()

# Run my_function 3 times, starting from a count of 1
for i in range(1, 4):
    print(f"Iteration number: {i}")
    my_function()

#Run my_function, incrementing loop value by 2
for i in range(0, 10, 2):
    print(f"Iteration number: {i}")
    my_function()

Explanation:

  1. We define a function called my_function(). This is the function we want to execute repeatedly.
  2. We use a for loop to iterate a specific number of times. for i in range(5): creates a loop that will run 5 times, with the variable i taking on the values 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 in each iteration. The value of i isn't actually used in this example; it's just a counter for the loop.
  3. Inside the loop, we call my_function(). This executes the function in each iteration, resulting in it running the desired number of times.

Using a while loop

Alternatively, a while loop can achieve the same result, although it's generally less concise for this particular purpose:

def my_function():
    print("This function is running from while loop!")

count = 0
while count < 3:
    my_function()
    count += 1

In this while loop example, the count variable keeps track of the number of times the function has been executed. The loop continues as long as count is less than 3. Inside the loop, my_function() is called, and count is incremented by 1 in each iteration. While perfectly functional, the for loop with range() is generally preferred for its readability and conciseness when the number of iterations is known in advance.

In summary, using a for loop with the range() function provides a clear and efficient way to execute a function a specific number of times in Python.

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