includes method not checking input against array in Javascript

Question

First off, new to Javascript ... trying to write good code! As a test for the app I am writing, I want to have a user's name input via prompt checked against an array that will enable user to keep going or prevent user from doing so.

I can get includes to filter properly when I assign a value to a variable:

var name, excluded_Persons;
var name = "jim"

function denyEntry () {

var excluded_Persons = ["bob", "jim"];

    if (excluded_Persons.includes(name)) {
    alert("You may not enter!!");
    enterName ();
    }

    else {
        allowEntry ();
    }
}
denyEntry ();

function allowEntry () {

    alert("You have been granted access!!");
}

returns "You may not enter!" However, when I include the function enabling the user to input a name,

    var name, excluded_Persons;

function enterName () {
    var name = prompt("What is your name?").toLowerCase();
    }

enterName ();

function denyEntry () {

    var excluded_Persons = ["bob", "jim"];

    if (excluded_Persons.includes(name)) {
    alert("You may not enter!!");
    enterName ();
    }

    else {
        allowEntry ();
    }

}

denyEntry ();

any name the user inputs (including "bob" and "jim") returns "You have been granted access!" The includes function is being bypassed.

Am I missing an argument in either the enterName function or the denyEntry function?

Answer 1

You are redeclaring the Name inside function enterName() so its scope is limited to only that function. Make name global variable:

 var name, excluded_Persons; function enterName () { name = prompt("What is your name?").toLowerCase(); } enterName (); function denyEntry () { var excluded_Persons = ["bob", "jim"]; console.log(name); if (excluded_Persons.includes(name)) { alert("You may not enter!!"); enterName (); } else { allowEntry (); } } denyEntry ();