Sudoku solver feedback

[Diego_Perez]

Hello @igorgetmeabrain,
Where is the rest of the code? ( I’m getting a
Unexpected token '{' and let emptyCell = this.findNextEmpty(grid) is not a function when I try to execute the code).

@igorgetmeabrain

Can anyone explain in simple terms how the following solve function actually works?

When you don’t understand what the code is doing, you can use a debugger or Python tutor:

Python tutor, freeCodeCamp Recursion Countdown, Example

As you can see, Python tutor is more “visual”.

https://pythontutor.com/javascript.html#mode=edit

@igorgetmeabrain

I conceptually understand recursion (a simple example being an n! function).
I also conceptually understand backtracking and other methods which can be applied to sudoku solving.
What I didn’t understand is exactly what my code does in practice at the point of recursion/backtracking (i.e. within the for loop).

In general, when this happens it is because there is an incomplete mental model of how JS is executed. A step by step execution is a good idea when do you don’t understand the code, this is an answer that I wrote about recursion (a different exercise). Maybe can help you:

Use Recursion to Create a Countdown - Understanding - #3 by Diego_Perez

Cheers and happy coding