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

David Regel
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David Regel
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 5,504 Points
Posted by David Regel
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
David Regel
Full Stack JavaScript Techdegree Student 5,504 Points

Wh does my while loop stops looping?

My JavaScript File looks like this:

var message = '';
var student;
var search;

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

while (true) {
  search = prompt("Search student records: type a name [Jody] (or type 'quit' to end)");
  if (search.toLowerCase = "quit") {
  break;
  }
}

for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i += 1) {
  student = students[i];
  message += '<h2>Student: ' + student.name + '</h2>';
  message += '<p>Track: ' + student.track + '</p>';
  message += '<p>Points: ' + student.points + '</p>';
  message += '<p>Achievements: ' + student.achievements + '</p>';
}

When I type "quit" in the prompt window, my loop will stop working. This is correct. However, even when I type something else in the prompt window, my loop will also stop working. My goal is that the prompt window will appear as long as the user types something else than "quit".

Can someone tell me what's wrong with my code?

1 Answer

andren
andren
28,558 Points
andren
andren
28,558 Points

The reason it always quits is that you are using the = operator instead of the == operator within the if condition. = is used to assign a value, == is used to compare values.

There is another issue though, which is the fact that you have not put parenthesis after your toLowerCase method call. In JavaScript you always have to put a pair of parenthesis after a method name in order to actually run it.

If you fix those issues like this:

var message = '';
var student;
var search;

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

while (true) {
  search = prompt("Search student records: type a name [Jody] (or type 'quit' to end)");
  if (search.toLowerCase() == "quit") { // Added () and changed = to ==
    break;
  }
}

for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i += 1) {
  student = students[i];
  message += '<h2>Student: ' + student.name + '</h2>';
  message += '<p>Track: ' + student.track + '</p>';
  message += '<p>Points: ' + student.points + '</p>';
  message += '<p>Achievements: ' + student.achievements + '</p>';
}

Then your prompt code will work properly.