Return: Quiz III in JavaScript - Time Complexity: O(1)


Quiz: What would this code produce if we were to copy-paste it in a code editor and run it?

function get_greeting(name) {
	console.log("Hey, " + name);
}

let greeting = get_greeting("Andy");
console.log(greeting);

Options:


Important Note:

Do not use an actual code editor to get the answer! It would defy the whole purpose of the quiz!


Instructions:

Pick your answer and assign variable answer in the code editor with that answer.

For example, if you think the answer to the quiz is B, write let answer = "B" in the code editor and press Validate Solution!.

Understanding the Problem

The core challenge of this problem is understanding how JavaScript functions and their return values work. The function get_greeting logs a greeting message to the console but does not return any value. When we assign the result of get_greeting("Andy") to the variable greeting, we need to understand what value greeting will hold.

Approach

To solve this problem, we need to break down the code execution step by step:

  1. The function get_greeting is defined.
  2. The function get_greeting is called with the argument "Andy".
  3. Inside the function, console.log("Hey, " + name) is executed, which prints "Hey, Andy" to the console.
  4. The function get_greeting does not have a return statement, so it implicitly returns undefined.
  5. The variable greeting is assigned the value undefined.
  6. console.log(greeting) is executed, which prints undefined to the console.

Algorithm

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the algorithm:

  1. Define the function get_greeting that takes a parameter name.
  2. Inside the function, log the greeting message to the console.
  3. Call the function get_greeting with the argument "Andy".
  4. Assign the result of the function call to the variable greeting.
  5. Log the value of greeting to the console.

Code Implementation

function get_greeting(name) {
    // Log the greeting message to the console
    console.log("Hey, " + name);
}

// Call the function and assign the result to the variable 'greeting'
let greeting = get_greeting("Andy");

// Log the value of 'greeting' to the console
console.log(greeting);

Complexity Analysis

The time complexity of this code is O(1) because it involves a constant number of operations regardless of the input size. The space complexity is also O(1) as it uses a fixed amount of space.

Edge Cases

There are no significant edge cases for this problem as it involves basic function calls and console logging. However, if the function were to return a value, we would need to consider what happens when different types of values are returned.

Testing

To test this solution, you can run the code in a JavaScript environment and observe the output. The expected output is:

Hey, Andy
undefined

Thinking and Problem-Solving Tips

When approaching problems like this, it's important to understand the behavior of functions and return values in JavaScript. Practice by writing small functions and observing their outputs. This will help you build a strong foundation in understanding how JavaScript works.

Conclusion

In this problem, we explored how JavaScript functions work and how their return values affect the code. Understanding these concepts is crucial for writing effective JavaScript code. Keep practicing and exploring different scenarios to strengthen your problem-solving skills.

Additional Resources