Unlock the Mysteries of console.log() and Save Your Sanity

In the world of programming, console.log() is a debugging tool that can both illuminate and infuriate. You've probably experienced the frustration of seeing an unexpected value printed to the console, even after you've updated the variable. What gives?

The culprit is a subtle yet powerful feature of console.log(): it displays the value of a variable at runtime. This means that if you change the value of a variable after calling console.log(), the printed value will remain unchanged.

To make matters worse, if you click the expand button next to the printed value, you'll see the updated value. This can lead to a lot of confusion and wasted time, especially if you're not aware of this behavior.

Fear not, my fellow coders! There is a simple solution to this maddening mystery. When debugging, always expand the printed value immediately to see the latest changes. This may seem like a small step, but it can save you hours of hair-pulling frustration.

To illustrate this concept, let's consider an example. Say you have a variable called 'a' with the value 5. You then call console.log(a), and the console prints 5. However, you subsequently change the value of 'a' to 10. When you expand the printed value, you'll see 10, as expected. But the original printed value will still display 5.

This behavior is inherent to console.log() and cannot be changed. However, by understanding this principle, you can avoid falling into the debugging trap. So next time you're scratching your head over a console.log() value, remember to expand it right away and save yourself the agony. Your hair will thank you for it!