Is there a difference between `continue` and `pass` in a for loop in python?

Yes, they do completely different things. pass simply does nothing, while continue goes on with the next loop iteration. In your example, the difference would become apparent if you added another statement after the if: After executing pass, this further statement would be executed. After continue, it wouldn't.

>>> a = [0, 1, 2]
>>> for element in a:
...     if not element:
...         pass
...     print(element)
... 
0
1
2
>>> for element in a:
...     if not element:
...         continue
...     print(element)
... 
1
2

continue will jump back to the top of the loop. pass will continue processing.

if pass is at the end for the loop, the difference is negligible as the flow would just back to the top of the loop anyway.

Yes, there is a difference. continue forces the loop to start at the next iteration while pass means "there is no code to execute here" and will continue through the remainder of the loop body.

Run these and see the difference:

for element in some_list:
    if not element:
        pass
    print(1) # will print after pass

for element in some_list:
   if not element:
       continue
   print(1) # will not print after continue

Difference between pass and continue in a for loop:

So why pass in python?

If you want to create a empty class, method or block.

Examples:

class MyException(Exception):
    pass


try:
   1/0
 except:
   pass

without 'pass' in the above examples will throw IndentationError.