JavaScript Starter · free course

Free course · Lesson 2 of 5

Control Flow & Functions

In this lesson you will

  • Make decisions with if/else and strict equality
  • Write functions, including arrow functions

JavaScript's if / else if / else and for / while loops work as you'd expect. Functions can be written the classic way, or as modern arrow functions — a shorter syntax used everywhere in current JavaScript.

  • Classic function: function greet(name) { return "Hi " + name; }
  • Arrow function: const greet = (name) => `Hi ${name}`;
  • === compares value and type — always prefer it over the loose ==.
  • Array methods like .map() and .filter() often replace manual loops.

💡 Practical Skill: Reach for .filter() and .map() before a manual for loop — they're shorter, and communicate intent more clearly.

Worked exampleAttendance Threshold Check
JavaScript
const attendance = [18, 15, 20, 9, 17];const totalClasses = 20; const checkStatus = (classesAttended) => {  const rate = (classesAttended / totalClasses) * 100;  if (rate >= 80) return "Eligible for certificate";  if (rate >= 60) return "Needs make-up session";  return "At risk — contact student";}; attendance.forEach((classes, index) => {  console.log(`Student ${index + 1}: ${checkStatus(classes)}`);});

Practice exercise

Write an arrow function that returns 'Pass' or 'Fail' for a mark, then use a loop to print the result for five marks.

Key takeaways

  • Always compare with === and !==
  • Functions turn repeated code into named, reusable steps
  • Arrow functions are a short way to write small functions
In the full program Module 2: Logic and Functions in JavaScript See how this topic is taught in depth, with practical activities and an assessment.

Free self-study lesson — no certificate. For the full instructor-led program, see registration options.