FAQ: Heaps: Javascript - Heapify I

Frequently Asked Questions JavaScript FAQ
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This community-built FAQ covers the “Heapify I” exercise from the lesson "Heaps: Javascript ".

Paths and Courses
This exercise can be found in the following Codecademy content:

Pass the Technical Interview with JavaScript

FAQs on the exercise Heapify I

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2

Can you please stop copy-pasting helper functions without explaining them? At least describe them and make us write them from scratch. It seriously does not help.

1 Like
3

I am having more trouble with this exercise than any other. Can someone help me wrap my head around why we have to reassign the left and right child variables in the while loop?

heapify() {
    console.log('Heapify');
    let current = 1;
    let leftChild = getLeft(current);
    let rightChild = getRight(current);

    while (this.canSwap(current, leftChild, rightChild)) {
      leftChild = getLeft(current);
      rightChild = getRight(current);
    }
  }
4

The while loop isn’t finished in this exercise, the rest is filled in in Heapify II.
With all while loops you have to reassign the variables in the condition to avoid an infinite loop.
Here, the condition is: this.canSwap(current, leftChild, rightChild)
The variables are: current, leftChild and rightChild
If the variables didn’t change, the condition would always be true (or always false) and would run for ever (or never). So you have to reassign leftChild and rightChild and will reassign current in the next exercise.
Sorry if this information is redundant to you, I’m not sure what you’re struggling with exactly!

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5

I started to understand better with practice, but this is a great explanation, thank you!

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