How do I fix the issue where my JavaScript function doesn't return the expected value?

I'm having an issue with my JavaScript function not returning the expected value. Here's the code:

1function addNumbers(a, b) {
2    let sum = a + b;
3    return sum;
4}
5
6const result = addNumbers(5, 7); 
7console.log(result); 
8// Expected output: 12, but returns undefined

1function addNumbers(a, b) {
2    let sum = a + b;
3    return sum;
4}
5
6const result = addNumbers(5, 7); 
7console.log(result); 
8// Expected output: 12, but returns undefined

Issue: The function is returning undefined, even though I expect it to return 12. What could be the cause?

What I've tried:

Checked that the parameters a and b are both numbers.
Double-checked the syntax and return statement.

Any help would be great!

Fixing the JavaScript Function Issue

It looks like you're encountering an issue where your JavaScript function addNumbers is returning undefined instead of the expected value of 12. Let's analyze the code you provided:

1function addNumbers(a, b) {
2    let sum = a + b;
3    return sum;
4}
5
6const result = addNumbers(5, 7); 
7console.log(result); 
8// Expected output: 12, but returns undefined

1function addNumbers(a, b) {
2    let sum = a + b;
3    return sum;
4}
5
6const result = addNumbers(5, 7); 
7console.log(result); 
8// Expected output: 12, but returns undefined

Possible Causes

Function Call: Ensure that the function is being called correctly. In your case, it seems you are calling it with addNumbers(5, 7), which is correct.
Variable Scope: Check if there are any other variables named result that might be affecting the output. However, in your provided code, this does not seem to be the case.
Console Output: Make sure that the console is displaying the correct output. Sometimes, the console might not refresh properly, leading to confusion.

Debugging Steps

Check Parameter Types: You mentioned that you checked the parameters a and b to ensure they are numbers. You can add a console log to verify their types:
```
1console.log(typeof a, typeof b); // Should log 'number' for both
```
```
1console.log(typeof a, typeof b); // Should log 'number' for both
```
Simplify the Function: You can simplify the function to ensure it works as expected:
```
1function addNumbers(a, b) {
2    return a + b; // Directly return the sum
3}
```
```
1function addNumbers(a, b) {
2    return a + b; // Directly return the sum
3}
```
Test with Different Values: Try calling the function with different values to see if the issue persists:
```
1console.log(addNumbers(1, 2)); // Should return 3
2console.log(addNumbers(-1, 1)); // Should return 0
```
```
1console.log(addNumbers(1, 2)); // Should return 3
2console.log(addNumbers(-1, 1)); // Should return 0
```

Conclusion

Based on your description and the provided code, the function should return 12 when called with 5 and 7. If it is still returning undefined, please check for any other parts of your code that might be affecting the output or any potential issues in the environment where you are running the code.

If you continue to experience issues, please provide additional context or any error messages you might be receiving.