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

関数がPythonプログラミングにどのような影響を与えるかについての確かな理解を得ることができます。関数の定義と呼び出し、引数の操作、戻り値の処理、再帰やラムダ式を用いた柔軟で効率的なコードの作成を習得します。

関数とは何か、そしてなぜPythonで重要なのかを探求します。関数の作成方法、引数の定義、戻り値の処理、組み込み関数の効果的な使用方法について学びます。

Pythonにおける位置引数とオプション引数の仕組みを学びます。さまざまな入力に対応できる柔軟な関数を作成し、コードの柔軟性を向上させます。

可変長引数およびキーワード引数を使用して、入力サイズが異なる場合の処理方法を理解します。これらの手法によって、関数をより動的かつ整理されたものにする方法を学びます。

戻り値が関数の出力をどのように表すかを学びます。単一または複数の値の返却、Noneの使用、より高度なデータフロー制御のためのジェネレーターの活用について探求します。

再帰とラムダ関数による高度な関数の概念を習得します。再帰が繰り返しの問題をどのように解決するか、ラムダ式が簡潔な1行関数をどのように作成するかを学びます。

Infinite Generators

Infinite Generators with while True

Controlling an Infinite Generator

解答

Infinite Generators with `while True`