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JavaScript JavaScript Basics (Retired) Creating Reusable Code with Functions Getting Information From a Function

Dan MacDonagh
Dan MacDonagh
4,615 Points
Posted by Dan MacDonagh
Dan MacDonagh
4,615 Points

Returning variable instead of returning calculation

In the beginning part of the video, when he changed the function to return a value, he assigned the Math.floor() calculation into a variable, and then returned that variable. Why couldn't you just return the Math.floor calculation inside the function and call it that way?

I tested it out, and this:

function getRandomNumber() {
  return Math.floor( Math.random() * 6 ) + 1; 
}
alert(getRandomNumber());

acted in the same way as this:

function getRandomNumber() {
  var randomNumber Math.floor( Math.random() * 6 ) + 1; 
  return randomNumber;
}
alert(getRandomNumber());

Is there a difference in the methods I'm not seeing?

1 Answer

Tony Nguyen
Tony Nguyen
24,934 Points
Tony Nguyen
Tony Nguyen
24,934 Points

You're thinking more like a programmer now! Yes, those both work and provide the same results and there isn't a difference in terms if functionality as they both do the same thing. I think the instructor was just doing that to provide more readability and understanding.

Dan MacDonagh
Dan MacDonagh
4,615 Points
Dan MacDonagh
Dan MacDonagh
4,615 Points

Thanks for the quick response! Glad I wasn't going crazy :)