explanation needed regarding JavaScript Array Object

[kiedis]

hi. learnign JavaScript from tutorial provided at http://www.w3schools.com/js/default.asp In JavaScript Array Object section, I was presented with this script: <script>var i;var mycars = new Array();mycars[0] = "Saab";mycars[1] = "Volvo";mycars[2] = "BMW";for (i=0;i<mycars.length;i++){document.write(mycars + "<br>");}</script> I realize that this code says to increase integer value by 1 as long as i<mycars.length But i don't get what is mycars.length in this case? The length of "mycars" (6 characters in this case?) I experimented by adding additional variables: <script>var i;var mycars = new Array();mycars[0] = "Saab";mycars[1] = "Volvo";mycars[2] = "BMW";mycars[3] = "boeing";mycars[4] = "volga";mycars[5] = "airbus";mycars[6] = "tupolev";mycars[7] = "yak";for (i=0;i<mycars.length;i++){document.write(mycars + "<br>");}</script> and i hoped that this addition of new variables will disrupt this function but no, all new variables were displayed properly when i clicked "submit code". Then i changed the function in this place:for (i=0;i=mycars.length;i++) and then immediately my internet browser froze and i had to close it down. So, what kind of length does the mycars.length indicate here and why it's so important that i< mycars.length here? just can't get it

[jeffman]

mycars.lengthis the number of elements in the array object. The goal of the loop is to cycle through all the elements. So it starts with mycars[0] and loops until it reaches the element before mycars[mycars.length]. i=mycars.length uses the assignment operator ( = ), not the test-for-eqality operator ( == ) so the value never changes. i always = mycars.length so the loop never ends. That's why you crashed.

[kiedis]

Great explanation, thank you very much!

[thescientist]

There's also an explanation of for loops in the tutorialshttp://www.w3schools.com/js/js_loop_for.asp