Newbie JS Question: Can I pass an array as an argument?

[weirdichi]

var array1 = ["1", "22", "333", "4444", "55555"];
var currentLongWord = 0;

function longestWord(arrayName) {

    for (var i=0; i<arrayName.length-1; i++) {
        if (arrayName[i].length>currentLongWord) {
             currentLongWord = arrayName[i].length;
        }
    }
}

console.log(longestWord(array1));

The goal is to cycle through the array and print the number of characters from the longest element. When I run it, it returns an undefined. I've googled this and still find no answers. What am I doing wrong here?

 

[tfinch2]

In the code you posted, longestWord does not return anything.

 

[Cogman]

yup. you are missing a return statement.

Also, currentLongWord should NOT be in the global scope. Move it into the function (globals are slower than locals in javascript and they make code harder to maintain).

 

[Leros]

What the above said, plus you have a bug:

 for (var i=0; i<arrayName.length-1; i++)

should be

 for (var i=0; i<arrayName.length; i++)

It will only enter the loop when i < arrayname.length. Thus, when i = arrayName.length, it will exit the loop. The last iteration of the loop will be with i = arrayName.length - 1, which is the last element in your array.