I don't understand this code.

var timesTable;
while ((timesTable = prompt("Enter the times table", -1)) != -1) {.....}

Why is necessary to declare the variable before? I tried to do this:

while ((var timesTable = prompt("Enter the times table", -1)) != -1) {.....}

but it doesn't work. What's the problem? Is something about scope?

The full program is:

function writeTimesTable(timesTable, timesByStart, timesByEnd) {
        for (; timesByStart <= timesByEnd; timesByStart++) {
            document.write(timesTable + " * " + timesByStart + " = " + timesByStart * timesTable + "<br />");
            }
        }
    var timesTable;
    while ((timesTable = prompt("Enter the times table", -1)) != -1) {
        while (isNaN(timesTable) == true) {
            timesTable = prompt(timesTable + " is not a " + "valid number, please retry", -1);
        }
        document.write("<br />The " + timesTable + " times table<br />");
        writeTimesTable(timesTable, 1, 12);
    }

Thanks by advance.

I don't understand this code.

var timesTable;
while ((timesTable = prompt("Enter the times table", -1)) != -1) {.....}

Why is necessary to declare the variable before? I tried to do this:

while ((var timesTable = prompt("Enter the times table", -1)) != -1) {.....}

but it doesn't work. What's the problem? Is something about scope?

The full program is:

function writeTimesTable(timesTable, timesByStart, timesByEnd) {
        for (; timesByStart <= timesByEnd; timesByStart++) {
            document.write(timesTable + " * " + timesByStart + " = " + timesByStart * timesTable + "<br />");
            }
        }
    var timesTable;
    while ((timesTable = prompt("Enter the times table", -1)) != -1) {
        while (isNaN(timesTable) == true) {
            timesTable = prompt(timesTable + " is not a " + "valid number, please retry", -1);
        }
        document.write("<br />The " + timesTable + " times table<br />");
        writeTimesTable(timesTable, 1, 12);
    }

Thanks by advance.

• javascript
• function
• while-loop
• scope

Share Improve this question Follow asked Mar 15, 2016 at 11:25 guillemusguillemus 10133 silver badges1111 bronze badges 1

• 1 Define "doesn't work". – deceze ♦ Commented Mar 15, 2016 at 11:27

Add a ment  | 

2 Answers 2

Sorted by: Reset to default 7

You can't define a variable within a while loop, there is no such construct in javascript;

The reason that you can define it within a for loop is because a for loop has an initialization construct defined.

for (var i = 0; i < l; i++) { ... }
//     |           |     |
// initialisation  |     |
//            condition  |
//                    execute after each loop

Basically, it won't work because it is invalid code.

You can however remove the var declaration pletely, but that will essentially make the variable global and is considered bad practice.

That is the reason you are seeing the var declaration directly above the while loop

This is the best alternative I could e up with

for (let i = 0; i < Number.MAX_VALUE; i++) {
  const variable = getVariable(i);
  if (/* some condition */) { break; }
  /* logic for current iteration */
}