How to exit a loop inside a functionin Javascript

Question

I am trying to exit a function call when a value is found, and I can not wrap my head around this.

Using the debugger I've noticed that the return found; line makes execution jump to the end of the function, OK... but after that another iteration on the for loop is started.

I've tried using break too.

My code is below.

Edited

I've checked the logic on the debugger, adding a breakpoint on found = true and it works fine, so the only thing left is that it should exit properly after that...

//  Tree traversal until answer found via answer.id

    function locateAnswer(wholeTree, answerID) {
      var found = false;
      if (wholeTree.answers) { // checks if next_queston is populated first

        for (var i = 0; i < wholeTree.answers.length; ++i) {        
          if (wholeTree.answers[i].id == answerID) {

            console.log("found!");
            found = true;
            return found;       // TRIED break; TOO

          } else {
            for (var j = 0; j < $scope.breadcrumbs.length; ++j) {
              if ($scope.breadcrumbs[j].question == wholeTree.question) {
                // if already exist, we pop elements until it does not exist anymore
                while ($scope.breadcrumbs[j]) {
                  $scope.breadcrumbs.pop();
                }
              }
            }

            // we push the new breadcrumb
            $scope.breadcrumbs.push({ "question": wholeTree.question, "answer": wholeTree.answers[i].answer });

            locateAnswer(wholeTree.answers[i].next_question, answerID);
          }
        }
      }
     //  ALSO TRIED return HERE AFTER break
    };

return should work.

Nina Scholz
– Nina Scholz

2018-11-28 12:05:58 +00:00
Commented Nov 28, 2018 at 12:05 — Nina Scholz
– Nina Scholz, Commented Nov 28, 2018 at 12:05

Gufran Hasan · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-28 12:01:33Z

1

You should use break inside the loop and return statement at the end of the function. Please updated code

function locateAnswer(wholeTree, answerID) {
      var found = false;
      if (wholeTree.answers) { // checks if next_queston is populated first

        for (var i = 0; i < wholeTree.answers.length; ++i) {        
          if (wholeTree.answers[i].id == answerID) {

            console.log("found!");
            var found = true;

          break;        // TRIED break; TOO

          } else {
            for (var j = 0; j < $scope.breadcrumbs.length; ++j) {
              if ($scope.breadcrumbs[j].question == wholeTree.question) {
                // if already exist, we pop elements until it does not exist anymore
                while ($scope.breadcrumbs[j]) {
                  $scope.breadcrumbs.pop();
                }
              }
            }

            // we push the new breadcrumb
            $scope.breadcrumbs.push({ "question": wholeTree.question, "answer": wholeTree.answers[i].answer });

            locateAnswer(wholeTree.answers[i].next_question, answerID);
          }
        }
      }
     //  ALSO TRIED return HERE AFTER break
 return found;
    };

answered Nov 28, 2018 at 12:01

Gufran Hasan

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1 Comment

P. Navarro Over a year ago

Tried this, does not work either... Is it something related with the recursion? Am I calling it in the wrong place?

HaYa Abu Al Halawa · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-28 12:01:21Z

0

Try to use break instead of return inside the for loop

answered Nov 28, 2018 at 12:01

HaYa Abu Al Halawa

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1 Comment

P. Navarro Over a year ago

Tried this, does not work either... Is it something related with the recursion? Am I calling it in the wrong place?

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