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JavaScript JavaScript Loops, Arrays and Objects Tracking Multiple Items with Arrays Build a Quiz Challenge, Part 2 Solution

Why does the browser display html only if the listHTML variable is returned?

Dave closes his <ol> tag then uses the return statement on the variable: listHTML += '</ol>'; return listHTML;

Unless this happens, the browser doesn't know to print that html when the print function is called. Why?

2 Answers

Basically what's happening is that he's calling a function and then he's displaying whatever that function returns. If the function doesn't return anything, then there's nothing to display. it's like if you put money in a vending machine(call the function) and make a selection (the function runs), but you never reach in and grab the bag of chips(return a value). Obviously you don't have the chips until you reach in and get them :-) (I may be hungry lol)

Thanks. I'm gonna go and return a cookie - to me.