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JavaScript JavaScript Loops, Arrays and Objects Simplify Repetitive Tasks with Loops `do ... while` Loops

Scott Wells
Scott Wells
8,715 Points

Why can't I use the 'false' condition for the 'correctGuess' variable?

The last line of the do while loop is confusing me.

do { guess = prompt('Guess a number between 1 and ' + upper + '.'); guessCount += 1; if (parseInt(guess) === randomNumber) { correctGuess = true; } } while (! correctGuess) <<< this line

Wouldn't 'while (correctGuess = false)' do the same thing? As long as 'correctGuess' remains false, the do while loop repeats?

Can someone please explain the difference and the reasoning behind it?

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,236 Points

Well, "correctGuess = false" is an assignment that would set the value to false, perhaps you meant "correctGuess == false" which would test it instead, and would be logically equivalent to "!correctGuess".

The latter form has the advantage of being more concise and doesn't involve a comparison.

Scott Wells
Scott Wells
8,715 Points

That makes sense and I didn't notice my syntax error before. Thank you!