Why does this.owner = owner not work?

HI Sam -

I'm not confident I have the answer as I'm pretty green but here's where I am at trying to understand myself:

1. maximum call stack size exceeded typically happens when some recursion won't resolve. e.g.: function knockKnock(){ console.log('who is there?'); console.log('Banana'); console.log('Banana who?'); knockKnock();}
2. from looking at the setter code: set owner(owner) { this.owner = owner;}
   I think what happens here is when we try to assign a value to owner, with "ernie.owner = 'Ashley';", the setter takes the argument owner, which then would be the right side of "this.owner = owner", but this.owner is taken as a call to the setter method which is then repeating the same thing again, never using the argument owner, before this.owner calls the setter again.
3. So i think change owner to _owner is a way to 'have orange knock on the door'/prevent unreconcilable recursion, since specifically, this.owner isn't a container that just needs a value, it's the setter method being called [the same way ernie.owner calls the method]. "this" is equivalent to "ernie" but just inside the object/class.

That's where I ended up pondering your question, I hope that helps, or that someone else can chime in and correct me if I am wrong.

Well.. That error is also called Stack Overflow

Because when you return this.owner you're not calling the property You're calling the METHOD set owner() function and guess what, that's an infinite recursion

so when computer memory gets full, you get the error Maximum call stack size exceeded

BTW, use markdown to mark your question, otherwise it's really hard to have a quick browse LOL

ChatGPT answered this for me –

Alright, let me break this down for you like you’re 12!

The setter method set owner(owner) is supposed to set a value for the owner property of the Pet class. But here’s the problem:

Inside the setter, you’re trying to use this.owner = owner. This creates an infinite loop, like a hamster running on a wheel forever. Why? Because:

1. When you write this.owner, the setter method is triggered again (that’s what setters do when you assign something to the property they’re defined for).
2. Inside the setter, this.owner = owner triggers the setter again. And again. And again. Forever.
3. The program eventually crashes because it keeps calling the setter and runs out of memory, causing the “Maximum call stack size exceeded” error.

It’s like if someone asks you your name, and instead of answering, you just keep asking yourself, “What’s my name?” endlessly. You’d never actually answer!