Break the While Loop in Python: Stop Execution after 10 Seconds

Learn how to stop a running while loop in Python after a specific duration. Implementing time control in your scripts can significantly enhance performance and usability.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Break the while loop 10 seconds after executed

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Stopping a While Loop After 10 Seconds in Python

Understanding the Problem

In your current implementation, the while loop continuously reads input from a video stream, processes the frames for face recognition, and checks for QR codes. However, you want it to automatically stop after 10 seconds without freezing the application or requiring user input. Your initial attempts included using timed conditions and keyboard events, but both approaches had their limitations.

To solve this, we'll utilize the datetime and timedelta modules, which are part of Python's standard library, allowing us to keep track of the elapsed time easily and efficiently.

Solution: Using datetime and timedelta

Here's how you can implement a time-constrained loop using datetime and timedelta. This method will monitor the time elapsed since the start of the loop and will break out of it when 10 seconds have passed.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Import the Required Modules:
Start by importing the necessary classes from the datetime module.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Record the Start Time:
Before entering the loop, capture the current time to mark the start of execution.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Modify the While Loop:
Use a conditional statement inside your while loop to check the elapsed time against 10 seconds.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Additional Code:
Ensure to include your existing code for face recognition, QR code detection, and video frame display inside the loop body. The condition to break the loop should be placed at the end of the loop to ensure it checks after processing a frame.

Example Code Snippet

Here’s how the complete structure could look embedded into your existing code:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Final Thoughts

Using the datetime and timedelta approach provides a robust solution to handle time-based loop termination without freezing your application. It seamlessly integrates into your existing code structure, allowing for smooth execution of face recognition tasks while maintaining control over the loop duration.

With this method, you can easily adapt the duration or the complexity of your operations within the loop without worrying about efficiency losses or user intervention. Happy coding!