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JavaScript JavaScript Loops, Arrays and Objects Tracking Data Using Objects The Build an Object Challenge, Part 2 Solution

For this video why was a for loop used , instead of a "for in" loop?

function print(message){
  var outputDiv = document.getElementById('output');
  outputDiv.innerHTML = message;
}

var HTML = '';

var students = [
  {
   Name: 'Jerry',
   Track: 'Front End Development',
   Achievements: 10,
   Points: 1216
  },
  {
   Name: 'Angelica',
   Track: 'iOS',
   Achievements: 8,
   Points: 1000
  },
  {
   Name: 'Robert',
   Track: 'Full Stack Developer',
   Achievements: 47,
   Points: 17000
  },
  {
   Name: 'Jordan',
   Track: 'Front End Developer',
   Achievements: 7,
   Points: 900
  },
  {
   Name: 'Kai',
   Track: 'Full Stack Developer',
   Achievements: 36,
   Points: 14000
  }
];

for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i++){
  HTML += '<br>'
  HTML += '<b>Student: ' + students[i].Name + '</b><br>';
  HTML += 'Track: ' + students[i].Track + '<br>';
  HTML += 'Achievements: ' + students[i].Achievements + '<br>';
  HTML += 'Points: ' + students[i].Points + '<br>';
}

print(HTML);

2 Answers

Mike Hatch
Mike Hatch
14,940 Points

Because it's an array. The for loop is standard practice to iterate over an array. According to Douglas Crockford in his book Javascript: The Good Parts (Pages 60 - 61) it has to do with order and performance. When iterating over the properties of an object it is standard practice to use a for in loop.

ooh, thats right, I am thinking the students was an object , I forgot in the video they did say its an array

Mike Hatch
Mike Hatch
14,940 Points

Arrays are objects, too. Most data in Javascript are objects and that includes functions. I highly recommend you read those two pages I linked you to.

James Estrada
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
James Estrada
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 25,866 Points

You need to use the standard for loop to iterate through each student. Then you can use a for in loop to go through each property of the object literal (student).