Programming with JavaScript

CS 297

Jan. 24, 1997

  1. Look over the following program and try to predict what it will do.

    <html>
    <head>
    </head>
    <body>
    <script><!--
    // This is a comment.  You don't need to type-in any of these, except
    // for the one at the end.
    
    // Variable declarations.
    var name;
    var age;
    var i;
    var currentYear = 1997;
    var birthYear;
    var response;
    
    // Some straight-line execution.
    name = prompt("What is your name?", "");
    document.write("Hello " + name + "!<br><br>");
    
    age = prompt(name + ", how old are you?", "");
    
    // A conditional.
    if (age >= 30)
       document.write("We can't trust you!<br><br>");
    else
       document.write("I wish I were young again!<br><br>");
    
    birthYear = currentYear - age - 1;
    
    response = prompt("Were your born in " + birthYear + "? (y or n)", "");
    if (response == "y")
       document.write("I'm smart, aren't I?<br><br>");
    else
       document.write("You were born too early in the year!<br><br>");
    
    // A loop.
    for (i = 1; i <= age; i = i + 1)
        document.write(i + "<br>");
    
    document.write("<br>Goodbye " + name + "!<br>");
    
    // You need the following comment in your program.
    //-->
    </script>
    </body>
    </html>
    

  2. Using notepad, type the program in (you needn't type-in the comments, except for the final one).

  3. Save the program in your scratch folder with the name jscript.htm.

  4. Open the page in the browser to run the program.

  5. Did it do what you expected it to? Try to reconcile your predicted behavior of the program with what it actually did.



Thomas P. Kelliher
Fri Jan 24 08:38:44 EST 1997
Tom Kelliher