How to Create a Variable for Logging Inputs in JavaScript

Learn how to effectively gather user input in your shopping list app using JavaScript and dynamically append it to your page.
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Building a Shopping List App: Logging User Input

As a new coder, you may find yourself facing various challenges while building applications. One such challenge arises when you want to capture input from multiple fields and log that information as a single entry on your webpage. If you're working on a shopping list app and find yourself stuck on how to make that happen, you're in the right place! In this post, we’ll explore how to effectively collect and display user inputs seamlessly.

The Problem

Imagine you have a shopping list application, and you want users to input the following details:

Item (What they're buying)

Store (Where they are buying it from)

Date (When they plan to shop)

In your current code, you may have attempted to create a variable that uses the values from these three inputs but found that it didn’t work as expected. Let's take a look at how you can correct this.

Common Mistake

One recurring mistake is trying to capture input values before they have been populated. This is often the root cause of unexpected behavior in your app. Instead, you should read the input values at the moment the user clicks the submit button.

The Solution

To fix the issue, we need to adjust the code to pull the input values inside the event listener of the submit button. Here’s a step-by-step guide along with the revised code to help you create a variable that logs the input from your three fields correctly.

Updated Code Structure

Here’s how to properly structure your JavaScript:

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

HTML Structure

Your HTML should look something like this:

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

Key Changes Explained

Input Capture on Click: By moving the retrieval of input values inside the click event listener, we ensure we fetch the latest user input right when the user wants to log it.

String Formatting: The threeItems variable now correctly concatenates the input values into a readable format. This makes your logged items more informative.

Dynamic List Creation: Each click generates a new list item (li) that gets appended to the existing list, making your app interactive.

Conclusion

By following these guidelines, you can easily create a variable that logs input from multiple fields and displays it effectively on your shopping list app. Remember, it’s essential to capture input values after the user has entered them and clicked the submit button. Happy coding, and keep experimenting with your projects!