Workshop › Hangman › Step 23 of 36

Losing

What we are doing

A state says which part of the game we are in: 'playing', 'won' or 'lost'. The sixth miss sets 'lost', and guess only works while 'playing'.

```js
let state // 'playing', 'won' or 'lost'

function newWord() {
  // ...
  state = 'playing'
}

function guess(letter) {
  if (state !== 'playing' || guessed.has(letter)) return
  guessed.add(letter)
  if (!word.includes(letter)) wrong += 1
  if (wrong === MAX_WRONG) {
    state = 'lost'
  }
}
```

What it means

• state holds the stage of the game as text. Every new word starts 'playing'.
• !== means "is not equal to". guess now returns when the game is not being played, which also covers the old wrong === MAX_WRONG check.
• The sixth miss sets state to 'lost'.

Your turn

1. Under let wrong write let state ....
2. In newWord, at the end, write state = 'playing'.
3. In guess, change the first line to if (state !== 'playing' || guessed.has(letter)) return.
4. At the end of guess, write the if (wrong === MAX_WRONG) block. Press Run.

Skills: Game states

← The parts in a list Winning →

All steps

1. A list of secret words
2. The canvas and the pen
3. Paint the paper
4. A function that draws
5. Pick a random word
6. Write the word
7. Hide it behind blanks
8. Remember the guesses
9. Draw again and again
10. A guess
11. Guess with the keyboard
12. Only letters count
13. Count the misses
14. The same letter twice is free
15. Six misses at most
16. Show the misses
17. List the wrong letters
18. Draw a line
19. The gallows
20. The first miss: a head
21. Body, arms and legs
22. The parts in a list
23. Losing
24. Winning
25. Show the word you missed
26. The end message
27. Play again
28. Never the same word twice
29. A winning streak
30. Remember the best streak
31. Where each key goes
32. Draw the keys
33. Center the last row
34. Keys that remember
35. Tap a key
36. Build it yourself: a hint button