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JavaScript JavaScript Loops, Arrays and Objects Simplify Repetitive Tasks with Loops A Closer Look At Loop Conditions

Posted by Leyton Parker
Leyton Parker
6,556 Points

While loop question

So I got the challenge right by some mix of luck and intuition.

I understand all of the code except why this is necessary (why do you need to reset the variable secret with the prompt?)

secret = prompt();

Please help :)

app.js 
var secret = prompt("What is the secret password?");

while ( secret !== 'sesame' ) {
  prompt( 'What is the secret password?' )
  secret = prompt();
}

document.write("You know the secret password. Welcome.");
index.html 
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <title>JavaScript Loops</title>
</head>
<body>
<script src="app.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

4 Answers

Errin E. Johnson
Errin E. Johnson
22,458 Points 
var secret = prompt("What is the secret password?");
while (secret !== "sesame") {
    secret += prompt();
}
document.write("You know the secret password. Welcome.");
Errin E. Johnson
Errin E. Johnson
22,458 Points

I was going for D.R.Y. , not having to write out the statement again. I finally figured out when it was asking for new value to replace the initial, it was within the prompt(); only. Still this is not real clear on this, but I sort of get it. Lil intuitive with knowledge. :) How is my logic, moderator. :)

John Miceli
John Miceli
3,151 Points
John Miceli
John Miceli
3,151 Points

Thanks for posting this. I too assumed the prompt command alone, within the while loop, would assign the newly entered value to the variable "secret". The additional statement within the loop is apparently necessary to update the variable "secret", replacing what was stored when the prompt is initially called as the variable is defined. Good "intuition", as I was stumped till I saw your posting.

Leyton Parker
Leyton Parker
6,556 Points

so I'm not the only one who got a bit confused

Chyno Deluxe
Chyno Deluxe
16,936 Points
Chyno Deluxe
Chyno Deluxe
16,936 Points

While technically your answer is correct, and by correct i mean it meets the requirements for the challenge to consider the answer passing. This is how I understood the question and how I answered it because it made most sense to me.

var secret;

while ( secret !== 'sesame' ) {
   secret = prompt("What is the secret password?");
}

document.write("You know the secret password. Welcome.");

I hope this helps.

Leyton Parker
Leyton Parker
6,556 Points

That was who I wrote it initially, but the challenge instructed me that I 'Needed' to replace the value for the var secret inside the loop so I wrote that extra bit

secret = prompt();
Chyno Deluxe
Chyno Deluxe
16,936 Points

While that might have been enough to pass the challenge, It would case an infinite loop and if the user didn't get the password correct the first time it would then prompt an empty prompt that would not update the secret variable.

Errin E. Johnson
Errin E. Johnson
22,458 Points
Errin E. Johnson
Errin E. Johnson
22,458 Points 
var secret;
do {
  secret = prompt("What is the secret password?");
}
while ( secret !== "sesame" ) {

}
document.write("You know the secret password. Welcome.");
Errin E. Johnson
Errin E. Johnson
22,458 Points

D.R.Y. , declared the var secret before the loop, then I initialized the value within the do part of the loop, and there was no need to add code block for while part of the loop because the loop would end when the while condition hit false, the correct password.