Quick question about code

General
1 
function factorialize(num) {
  if (num === 0) { 
    return 1; 
  }
  return num * factorialize(num-1);
}

factorialize(5);

or

function factorialize(num) {
  if (num === 0) { return 1; }
  return num * factorialize(num-1);
}

factorialize(5);

Is there a difference? Which is preferred?

2

Is there a difference?

Not really Just white spaces are removed.

Which is preferred?

I’d prefer 1st one as it has proper indentation and is more readable.

There is, however, a non recursive version. By using loops

function factorialize(num) {
  var factorial = 1;
  for(var i=1;i<=num;i++){
    factorial *=i;
  }
  return factorial ;
}

factorialize(5);

What you do is, you run a loop from 1 (not 0, because anything multiplied by 0 is 0) to i<=num (because you need to include original number as well) or to i < num+1. (for the same boundary condition).

Then inside the loop, you multiply your factorial value with i and return factorial value after loop ends.

Which is preferred?

It really depends on you. For most people recursion is not intuitive.

3

Thanks for the quick and easy to understand reply, helps a lot! :heart_eyes:

4

I cleaned up your code.
You need to use triple backticks to post code to the forum.
See this post for details.

5

Why am I not allowed to edit the code? Do I need to be a mod or do i need to acquire enough points? How does this work?

6

You can only edit your own posts unless you’re a mod. There isn’t really a point system in the forum, but there are trust levels (see the Trust Level badges).

1 Like
7

There is absolutely no difference. I prefer the second one. It’s more concise and readable.

I think this is probably best:

function factorial(num){
  return num === 0 ? 1 : num * factorial(num--);
}