Recursive method not working correctly using JavaScript

Question

I am writing a basic boggle program. My recursive method is as follows:

function findWords(str, i, j) {

  if (j<0 || i<0 || i>=4 || j>=4)
      return;

  if (marked[i][j])
      return;

  marked[i][j] = true;
  str = str+Board[i][j];
  document.write(str + " ");

  if(str.length>4)
      return;

  if(isWord(str)==true)
      document.write(str);

  for (var ii = -1; ii<=1; ii++)
      for (var jj = -1; jj<=1; jj++)
          findWords(str, i+ii, j+jj);
          marked[i][j] = false;
}

However it only goes through one time. It stops at "if(isWord(str)==true) document.write(str);". When I comment out this portion of the code, the method works almost as expected. Is there a reason that the program would just stop at this point? Any advice is appreciated guys.

Is this function being called while the page is loading, or after? — Niet the Dark Absol
– Niet the Dark Absol, Commented Feb 19, 2014 at 0:30
Well, what is isWord? Is there an error in the JavaScript console? Why are you writing ==true? — Amadan
– Amadan, Commented Feb 19, 2014 at 0:31
isWord works in other parts of the program, it just determines if the word is a valid 3 letter word by looking at a list i put into the code. — Bill
– Bill, Commented Feb 19, 2014 at 0:31
mm to check the page loading issue change the document.write to console.log.. im curious if this is the issue — clancer
– clancer, Commented Feb 19, 2014 at 0:33

JosephGarrone · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-19 00:34:49Z

1

Try placing some brackets in there as follows:

function findWords(str, i, j){

    if(j<0 || i<0 || i>=4 || j>=4) return;

    if (marked[i][j]) return;

    marked[i][j] = true;
    str = str+Board[i][j];
    document.write(str + " ");

    if(str.length>4) return;

    if(isWord(str)==true)
    {
       document.write(str);
    }

    for(var ii = -1; ii<=1; ii++)
    {
        for (var jj = -1; jj<=1; jj++)
        {
            findWords(str, i+ii, j+jj);
        }
    }
    marked[i][j] = false;
}

answered Feb 19, 2014 at 0:34

JosephGarrone

4,1613 gold badges42 silver badges61 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Recursive method not working correctly using JavaScript

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related