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javascriptindexof

The end of my for loop is not running in my javascript function


I am trying to recreate the indexOf function in JavaScript. I can not get the return -1 portion to work, but the other parts work fine. It seems like the end of my for loop is not running, as I try to print out "end of loop". I have some test code as well and the outputs below. Any help would be appreciated.

Array.prototype.myIndexOf = function(...args) {
    if(args[1] === undefined){
        for(let i = 0; i < this.length; i++){
            if(this[i] === args[0]){
                return i;
            }
        }
    } else {
        for(let i = args[1]; i < this.length; i++){
            if(this[i] === args[0]){
                return i;
            }
        }
        console.log("end of loop")
        return -1;
    }
};

// TEST

const beasts = ['ant', 'bison', 'camel', 'duck', 'bison'];

console.log(beasts.indexOf('bison'));
console.log(beasts.myIndexOf('bison'));
// expected output: 1

// start from index 2
console.log(beasts.indexOf('bison', 2));
console.log(beasts.myIndexOf('bison', 2));
// expected output: 4

console.log(beasts.indexOf('giraffe'));
console.log(beasts.myIndexOf('giraffe'));
// expected output: -1

1
1
4
4
-1
undefined

Solution

  • You're close. Move the return -1; statement outside of the if/else blocks. As it's currently written, you'll only receive the -1 if it doesn't find a match and you passed in two arguments.

    Array.prototype.myIndexOf = function(...args) {
        if(args[1] === undefined){
            for(let i = 0; i < this.length; i++){
                if(this[i] === args[0]){
                    return i;
                }
            }
        } else {
            for(let i = args[1]; i < this.length; i++){
                if(this[i] === args[0]){
                    return i;
                }
            }
        }
        return -1;
    };
    
    // TEST
    
    const beasts = ['ant', 'bison', 'camel', 'duck', 'bison'];
    
    console.log(beasts.indexOf('bison'));
    console.log(beasts.myIndexOf('bison'));
    // expected output: 1
    
    // start from index 2
    console.log(beasts.indexOf('bison', 2));
    console.log(beasts.myIndexOf('bison', 2));
    // expected output: 4
    
    console.log(beasts.indexOf('giraffe'));
    console.log(beasts.myIndexOf('giraffe'));
    // expected output: -1

    With this change, you will always hit return -1; if there is no match regardless of the number of parameters passed in.