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JavaScript

Posted by Jenna Malone
Jenna Malone
7,173 Points

So confused by this course

Hey everyone,

So I'm super new to javascript and I am a little confused by some of the syntax. I started to try to start this challenge and I noticed something that I dont understand. When typing out a function for example:

function askQuestion(question){ //insert some code here }

button.onclick = function() { //insert some code here };

Ok so here is the question.... How come on the function that is attached to the "button.onclick" how come that function ends with a semicolon when the function that is not attached to that does not?

Thank you in advance!

1 Answer

Katie Wood
Katie Wood
19,141 Points

Hi there,

You're correct that function definitions do not require a semicolon - that second example needs one because it is assigning the function to the button.onclick - it's just like any other assignment of a value, like a variable. As a simple example,

var animal = 'penguin';

requires a semicolon. Your second example is similar - the value being assigned is just a function instead of a string. So, if you're just defining the function by itself, you don't need a semicolon, but if you're assigning it as the value of something, you do.

Hope this helps!

Jenna Malone
Jenna Malone
7,173 Points

Thank you! Makes more sense now.