Summary  
This chapter covers how to implement infinite generators using `yield` inside a `while True` loop to produce unbounded sequences of values on demand and control their retrieval with `next()` or iteration constructs.  

General domain of usage  
Data streaming

Recall that `yield` pauses a generator and resumes it on the next `next()` call. So far, the generators you have seen had a clear stopping point. But generators become especially powerful when combined with an **infinite loop** – producing values indefinitely without ever storing them in memory.

## Infinite Generators with `while True`

Using a `while True` loop inside a generator creates an **infinite sequence** – something that would be impossible to store as a list. The generator only produces the next value when `next()` is called:


def counter():
    count = 1
    while True:       # Runs forever
        yield count   # Return current value and pause
        count += 1    # Resume from here on the next call

gen = counter()

print(next(gen))  # 1
print(next(gen))  # 2
print(next(gen))  # 3

No matter how many times you call `next()`, the generator will always have a new value ready – it never runs ahead or stores values in memory.

## Controlling an Infinite Generator

Since the generator runs forever, you need to control how many values you retrieve. The most common way is using a `for` loop with `range()`:


def counter():
    count = 1
    while True:
        yield count
        count += 1

gen = counter()

for _ in range(5):
    print(next(gen))  # 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Never iterate over an infinite generator with a plain `for` loop without a stopping condition – it will run forever and crash your program.

Note

import unittest
import types

def _dynamic_test(test_case, condition, success_message, failure_message):
    if condition:
        test_case._testMethodName = success_message
        test_case.assertTrue(True, success_message)
    else:
        test_case._testMethodName = failure_message
        test_case.fail(failure_message)

class TestIdGenerator(unittest.TestCase):

    def test_id_generator_is_generator(self):
        import user_code
        try:
            result = user_code.id_generator()
            condition = isinstance(result, types.GeneratorType)
            failure_message = "Expected `id_generator()` to return a generator object."
        except AttributeError:
            condition = False
            failure_message = "The function `id_generator` is not defined."
        _dynamic_test(self, condition, "The `id_generator()` returns a generator object.", failure_message)

    def test_first_five_ids(self):
        import user_code
        try:
            gen = user_code.id_generator()
            result = [next(gen) for _ in range(5)]
            expected = ["ID_1", "ID_2", "ID_3", "ID_4", "ID_5"]
            condition = result == expected
            failure_message = f"Expected `{expected}`, but got `{result}`."
        except AttributeError:
            condition = False
            failure_message = "The function `id_generator` is not defined."
        _dynamic_test(self, condition, f"The `id_generator` correctly generates `['ID_1', 'ID_2', 'ID_3', 'ID_4', 'ID_5']`.", failure_message)

    def test_id_format(self):
        import user_code
        try:
            gen = user_code.id_generator()
            result = [next(gen) for _ in range(5)]
            condition = all(id.startswith("ID_") for id in result)
            failure_message = f"Expected all IDs to follow the format `ID_N`, but got `{result}`."
        except AttributeError:
            condition = False
            failure_message = "The function `id_generator` is not defined."
        _dynamic_test(self, condition, "All generated IDs follow the format `ID_N`.", failure_message)

    def test_ids_are_sequential(self):
        import user_code
        try:
            gen = user_code.id_generator()
            result = [next(gen) for _ in range(5)]
            numbers = [int(id.split("_")[1]) for id in result]
            condition = numbers == list(range(1, 6))
            failure_message = f"Expected sequential IDs starting from 1, but got `{result}`."
        except (AttributeError, ValueError):
            condition = False
            failure_message = "Could not verify sequential IDs — make sure the format is `ID_N`."
        _dynamic_test(self, condition, "The generated IDs are sequential starting from `ID_1`.", failure_message)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    unittest.main()

test_main.py

Acquérir une compréhension solide de l'influence des fonctions sur la programmation Python. Maîtriser la définition et l'appel de fonctions, la gestion des arguments, le traitement des valeurs de retour, ainsi que la création de code flexible et efficace à l'aide de la récursivité et des expressions lambda.

Découvrez ce que sont les fonctions et pourquoi elles sont essentielles en Python. Apprenez à créer des fonctions, à définir des arguments, à gérer les valeurs de retour et à utiliser efficacement les fonctions intégrées.

Apprenez comment fonctionnent les arguments positionnels et optionnels en Python. Concevez des fonctions adaptables capables de gérer différents types d'entrées et d'améliorer la flexibilité de votre code.

Comprendre comment travailler avec des arguments arbitraires et des arguments nommés pour gérer des tailles d'entrée variables. Apprendre comment ces techniques rendent vos fonctions plus dynamiques et organisées.

Découvrez comment les valeurs de retour représentent la sortie d'une fonction. Apprenez à retourner une ou plusieurs valeurs, à utiliser None, et explorez les générateurs pour un contrôle plus avancé du flux de données.

Découvrez des concepts avancés de fonctions avec la récursivité et les fonctions lambda. Apprenez comment la récursivité résout des problèmes répétitifs et comment les expressions lambda permettent de créer des fonctions concises en une seule ligne.

Infinite Generators

Infinite Generators with while True

Controlling an Infinite Generator

Solution

Infinite Generators with `while True`