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

Siki Olaniran
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Siki Olaniran
Data Analysis Techdegree Student 11,126 Points

Why does the return statement call the variable name not the function name?

For example why can't I write: function sayHi () { var helloDay = alert("Hello"); return sayHi; }

2 Answers

Seth Kroger
Seth Kroger
56,413 Points

We always want to return a result of some sort. Saying return variableName; means we want to return the value of variableName. In JavaScript, using the function name would return the "value" of the function, which would be the whole function itself.