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

John Silverstein
John Silverstein
6,290 Points
Posted by John Silverstein
John Silverstein
6,290 Points

Alternative way to define the condition that makes the while loop stop?

Just want a clarification I understand the while condition defined as "! correctguess" practically means - "as long as correctguess is false". But is there a different, more intuitive, way to state that condition? would simply stating: "correctguess=false" change the variable's value to false again? and how about typing it like this: "correctguess!==false" - is that meant only for numbers?

Vlad Legkowski
Vlad Legkowski
9,882 Points
Vlad Legkowski
Vlad Legkowski
9,882 Points

I understand it this way - the stuff in the parenthesis "(...)" should evaluate to true.

This is hard one for me to explain, but I want to try:

So, what you propose above, you want to evaluate "is it true that something is false?" - (correctguess=false), if yes run the code bellow.

While standard practice is "is something is not true?" - (!correctguess), if yes run the code bellow.

!== , read here https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-operator-mean

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,275 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,275 Points

Yes, you could write "correctguess !== false".

But that's the opposite test from what you wrote the first time. The test "! correctguess" would actually be the same thing (logically) as "correctguess !== true" or "correctguess === false". But if correctguess is a boolean (something that is either true or false) the way you wrote it the first time would be preferred.

And yes, "correctguess = false;" is an assignment, and would set the variable's value to false.

John Silverstein
John Silverstein
6,290 Points
John Silverstein
John Silverstein
6,290 Points

Thanks!. Yeah, I did mean "correctguess !== true" as in "not identically equals true". But you say the "! correctguess" is preferred? why is that? I'm just thinking not to adopt this confusing type of defining a condition, and stick to the !==

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,275 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,275 Points

A boolean (like correctguess) already represents either true or false, so it can stand by itself (negated with "!" if needed) as a condition. Comparison operators are generally used on other types to produce a boolean result.