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JavaScript Introduction to Programming Control Structures Loops

Posted by Nir Frank
Nir Frank
3,578 Points

Defining variable inside loop works, defining outside of loop doesnt?

This works:

for (var x = 1; x < 101; x = x + 1) {
    var divisibleByThree = x % 3;
    var divisbleByFive = x % 5;

    if (divisibleByThree === 0 && divisbleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("fizzbuzz");
    }
    else if (divisibleByThree === 0) {
        console.log("fizz");
    }
    else if (divisbleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("buzz");
    }
    else {
        console.log(x);
    }
}

But this doesn't, and just counts from 1 to 100:

var divisibleByThree = x % 3;
var divisbleByFive = x % 5;

for (var x = 1; x < 101; x = x + 1) {
    if (divisibleByThree === 0 && divisbleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("fizzbuzz");
    }
    else if (divisibleByThree === 0) {
        console.log("fizz");
    }
    else if (divisbleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("buzz");
    }
    else {
        console.log(x);
    }
}

How come?

3 Answers

Alessandra Vaughn
Alessandra Vaughn
13,915 Points
Alessandra Vaughn
Alessandra Vaughn
13,915 Points

Hi there,

When you are defining the variable outside of the loop x has no value. Once it is inside the loop it has a value.

Nir Frank
Nir Frank
3,578 Points

Hey Alessandra, thanks for your answer! It brought up another question I had, using a while () loop instead of a for () loop:

This works:

var x = 0;
var divisibleByThree;
var divisibleByFive;

while (x < 100) {
    x = x + 1;
    divisibleByThree = x % 3;
    divisibleByFive = x % 5;

    if (divisibleByThree === 0 && divisibleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("fizzbuzz");
    }
    else if (divisibleByThree === 0) {
        console.log("fizz");
    }
    else if (divisibleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("buzz");
    }
    else {
        console.log(x);
    }
}

While this does not, and just gives me 100 instances of "fizzbuzz":

var x = 0;
var divisibleByThree = x % 3;
var divisibleByFive = x % 5;

while (x < 100) {
    x = x + 1;

    if (divisibleByThree === 0 && divisibleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("fizzbuzz");
    }
    else if (divisibleByThree === 0) {
        console.log("fizz");
    }
    else if (divisibleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("buzz");
    }
    else {
        console.log(x);
    }
}

Also, I thought of placing the "var x = 0" after the divisibleBy variables - this just counts from 1 - 100.

What sort of "logic" (not in the programming sense, in the layman's terms sense) am I missing here?

If we're able to define variables out of scope, and then call on them within our loop, how come this doesn't work?

Andrew Lima
Andrew Lima
5,233 Points
Andrew Lima
Andrew Lima
5,233 Points

Hi,

As Alessandra mentioned X has no value as it is out of scope.

You can access a variable from a higher scope (i.e. global variable within a function but you can't access a variable within a function globally)

Simply add this line of code under your global variables

var x = 1;

You can remove this section from your if statement :)

Nir Frank
Nir Frank
3,578 Points

Hey Andrew, thank you for your answer! It brought up another question I had, using a while () loop instead of a for () loop:

This works:

var x = 0;
var divisibleByThree;
var divisibleByFive;

while (x < 100) {
    x = x + 1;
    divisibleByThree = x % 3;
    divisibleByFive = x % 5;

    if (divisibleByThree === 0 && divisibleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("fizzbuzz");
    }
    else if (divisibleByThree === 0) {
        console.log("fizz");
    }
    else if (divisibleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("buzz");
    }
    else {
        console.log(x);
    }
}

While this does not, and just gives me 100 instances of "fizzbuzz":

var x = 0;
var divisibleByThree = x % 3;
var divisibleByFive = x % 5;

while (x < 100) {
    x = x + 1;

    if (divisibleByThree === 0 && divisibleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("fizzbuzz");
    }
    else if (divisibleByThree === 0) {
        console.log("fizz");
    }
    else if (divisibleByFive === 0) {
        console.log("buzz");
    }
    else {
        console.log(x);
    }
}

Also, I thought of placing the "var x = 0" after the divisibleBy variables - this just counts from 1 - 100.

What sort of "logic" (not in the programming sense, in the layman's terms sense) am I missing here?

If we're able to define variables out of scope, and then call on them within our loop, how come this doesn't work?

(Also, what do you mean I can remove the var x = 1; from my if statement? My (obviously wrong :P) understanding is that I'm defining the variable inside of the for (q; w; e) loop (putting it in place of the "q"), not inside of the if statement. Is that by chance what you meant? If so, how would I enter a "blank" value for "q"?)

Alessandra Vaughn
Alessandra Vaughn
13,915 Points
Alessandra Vaughn
Alessandra Vaughn
13,915 Points

The divisibleByThree and divisibleByFive variables are being set once, since they are outside of the loop. They need to be inside the loop so that they get set 100 different times and get to use the x that changes on each loop. It's basically the same problem as last time.

Nir Frank
Nir Frank
3,578 Points

Awesome. Got it! Thanks Alessandra!!