Understanding Why console.log Does Not Execute After a return Command in JavaScript

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The Problem Explained

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

What Happens in the Example?

In this code snippet:

The function square is defined to calculate the square of a number x and return it.

Understanding the return Statement

The key to understanding this behavior lies in what the return statement does in a function. Here's a breakdown of its functionalities:

Immediate Exit: When a return statement is executed, the function stops running immediately and returns the specified value.

JavaScript functions follow a strict execution flow. Upon encountering a return statement, the flow gets interrupted:

The function completes its task (i.e., calculating the square).

It then returns the value.

In simple terms, the command return brings the function to a halt; it does not allow any code after it to run.

How to Fix This and Log Your Message

If you want to log a statement before returning a value, you can simply rearrange the code as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Modifications Made:

This way, the message will be logged to the console, and the function will still return the correct value afterwards.

Conclusion

Keep experimenting with your code and continue learning! Happy coding!