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JavaScript

datajournalismguy
datajournalismguy
3,274 Points

Difference between a function and variable?

Hi there,

couldn't you just declare a variable instead a function, like:

var randomNumber = Math.floor( Math.random() * 6 ) + 1;

instead of:

function getRandomNumber() { var randomNumber = Math.floor( Math.random() * 6 ) + 1; return randomNumber; }

?

3 Answers

Hey Simon, the function:

function getRandomNumber() { 
return Math.floor(Math.random()*10 + 1)
};

will return a different random number every time you call:

getRandomNumber();

in your code. Whereas

var RandomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random()*10 + 1);

will generate a single random number and store that number as a variable, RandomNumber. So, if you want a single random number you can assign it to a variable. However, if you want your code to generate different random numbers each time you run it, you should use a function. I hope that helps. Happy coding!

Daniel Hernandez
Daniel Hernandez
13,437 Points

Functions are more fluid and allow for different inputs, whereas a variable will always be predefined. It depends on what you are doing to which is more fitting. The above answer is very much correct.

datajournalismguy
datajournalismguy
3,274 Points

Thank you both! That answers my question!