Issue with recursive function in javascript

Question

I am practicing using recursive functions to solve some simple javascript problems.

I am running into an issue with the following code,

var locate = function(arr,value){
    for (var i=0; i <arr.length; i++) {
        if(typeof arr[i]=== "string") {
            console.log("string is string");
            if(arr[i]=== value) {
                console.log("This should be true");
                return true;
            }
        }
        else {
            locate(arr[i], value);
        } 
    }
}
console.log(locate(['d', 'a',['e', 'g']], 'e'));

I cannot get this program to return true. It gets to the right part of the code, as it prints the statement above it.

Any help would be appreciated. I have been banging my head at this for a couple of hours now.

Edit-@Matt Burland pointed out the fact that you need to include a return statement when calling the recursive.

What IS it returning exactly?

Logic Artist
– Logic Artist

2014-10-27 20:58:55 +00:00
Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 20:58 — Logic Artist
– Logic Artist, Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 20:58
@LogicArtist: undefined

Matt Burland
– Matt Burland

2014-10-27 21:02:02 +00:00
Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 21:02 — Matt Burland
– Matt Burland, Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 21:02

Matt Burland · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-27 20:58:02Z

2

When you recurse, you need to return the value returned by the recursive call as you unwind.

So in your else clause, you need:

return locate(arr[i], value);

var locate = function(arr,value){
    for (var i=0; i <arr.length; i++) {
        if(typeof arr[i]=== "string") {
            console.log("string is string");
            if(arr[i]=== value) {
                console.log("This should be true");
                return true;
            }
        }
        else {
            return locate(arr[i], value);
        } 
    }
}
alert(locate(['d', 'a',['e', 'g']], 'e'));

answered Oct 27, 2014 at 20:58

Matt Burland

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