Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

JavaScript JavaScript Loops, Arrays and Objects Tracking Data Using Objects The Student Record Search Challenge

Posted by Doug Sammond
Doug Sammond
1,318 Points

document.write() in a while loop?

I think I'm missing something pretty basic. I expect the following code to prompt for a Search Name. If the string is not "Quit", I would expect it to write "No match found" and return to the prompt. However, after entering names other than "Quit", I see "No match foundNo match found" (indicating twice through the loop) and no further prompt. I'll appreciate any help. Thanks!

var queryName = '';

while (true) { queryName = prompt('Search for Name'); if (queryName.toLowerCase() === null || 'quit') { break; } document.write('No match found'); }

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,786 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,786 Points

Combining two terms with a logical operator (like "||") creates a single boolean result from them, which is likely not what you intended. To test both values, you need complete comparison expressions on both sides of the logical operator:

 if (queryName === null || queryName.toLowerCase() ===  'quit')
Doug Sammond
Doug Sammond
1,318 Points
Doug Sammond
Doug Sammond
1,318 Points

Thanks for the response! That works a little better, but I'm still getting a response I don't understand. Now with the following change, the code returns to the prompt, but when "Quit" is entered, it breaks from the loop and writes "No match foundNo match found". Shouldn't it skip the rest of what's in the loop after the "break;" command and not render the document.write('No match found') step? And, why is it duplicating it? Thanks for any further help!

var queryName = '';

while (true) { queryName = prompt('Search for Name'); if (queryName.toLowerCase() === 'quit') { break; } document.write('No match found'); }

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,786 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
229,786 Points

You should see "No match found." repeated for each word you enter before "quit". If "quit" is the very first thing you input, the page should be blank.