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JavaScript Exit Out of the Loop – One Solution

Victor Stanciu
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.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Victor Stanciu
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 11,196 Points

Please help me understand how my code works.

Hi!

I don't understand why the code inside the else clause is not executed immediately when the number is NOT guessed. I was expecting it to display the message Too bad! You did not guess the number ${randomNumber}! AND ONLY AFTER displaying it, continue with the prompt (from the next couple of lines, outside the if-else).

My code is written below.

Thanks a lot for your help!

const main = document.querySelector('main');
const randomNumber = getRandomNumber(10);
let guess = prompt('I\'m thinking of a number between 1 and 10. Guess the number!');
let attempts = 1;

console.log(`The random number is ${randomNumber}`);    // Just to help understand how the code works
console.log(`The number of attempts is ${attempts}`);   // Just to help understand how the code works

// Keep track of the number of guess attempts

function getRandomNumber(upper) {
  return Math.floor( Math.random() * upper ) + 1;
}


// TODO: Use a loop to create a number guessing game
//  1) Ask the user to enter a number and assign that value to the `guess` variable
//  2) End the loop when the user's guess matches the random number
//  3) Display a message letting the user know they guessed the number

while(attempts < 10){
  if(+guess === randomNumber){
    document.querySelector('main').innerHTML = `<h1>It took you ${attempts} tries to guess the number ${randomNumber}!</h1>`;
    break;
  } else {
    // WHY DOES THIS NOT EXECUTE IMMEDIATLY AFTER THE IF EVALUATES TO FALSE?
    document.querySelector('main').innerHTML = `<h1>Too bad! You did not guess the number ${randomNumber}!</h1>`;
  }
  guess = prompt(`Try again!`);
  attempts++;
  console.log(`The number of attempts is ${attempts}`);  // Just to help understand how the code works
}

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,248 Points

This is covered in the "Teacher's Notes" section in one of the course videos (but not this practice session). Modern browsers do not update the page until after the program ends. While in the loop, the only immediate forms of output are alert and prompt pop-ups, and console logs.

Victor Stanciu
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.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Victor Stanciu
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 11,196 Points

Hi, Steven!

Thanks for the help! I'll try and find the information in the "Teacher's Notes". Usually I read them first, including the documentation linked in that section. Must've missed something!