Wordle: Cross Off Incorrect Letter Feature

Hey everyone! Let's dive into an exciting feature to enhance our Wordle game: crossing off incorrect letters. This feature will significantly improve the user experience by providing visual feedback on which letters have already been tried and proven wrong. This not only prevents repetitive guesses but also helps players strategize better. Here’s how we can implement this feature, ensuring it aligns with user needs and game mechanics.

User Story: Enhancing the Player Experience

As a player, the goal is straightforward: I want the game to visually mark letters that I have guessed incorrectly on the on-screen keyboard. This way, I can avoid using those letters in future guesses and improve my chances of solving the puzzle. Think about it, guys – how many times have you re-guessed a letter only to realize you already knew it was wrong? This feature nips that in the bud!

Acceptance Criteria: Making it Work

To make sure this feature works perfectly, we need to define some clear acceptance criteria. These are the rules that will guide our implementation and testing.

Marking Incorrect Letters

After each guess, the game needs to do a bit of detective work. Letters that do not appear in the target word should be marked as crossed out or grayed out on the on-screen keyboard. This is the core of our feature. Imagine the keyboard adapting in real-time, showing you exactly which letters to avoid. This is crucial for a smooth and intuitive user experience.

Handling Correct and Misplaced Letters

Now, let's not forget about the letters that do appear in the word. Letters that appear in the word but are in the wrong position should remain visible (yellow). These are our hints – use them wisely! And of course, letters that are correct and in the correct position should remain highlighted (green). These are the victories that guide us closer to solving the puzzle.

Dynamic Updates

The magic of this feature lies in its real-time feedback. The keyboard should update dynamically after every guess. No one wants to refresh the page or wait for an update. Instant feedback is key to keeping players engaged and in the flow of the game. This ensures a seamless and responsive experience.

Duplicate Letters

Here’s where things get a little tricky. We need to handle duplicate letters correctly. If the word is "apple" and the guess is "allee", only mark letters that are truly absent. We don’t want to mislead players by incorrectly crossing out letters that are actually in the word. Accurate feedback is paramount.

Technical Considerations: How to Implement It

Okay, let's get a bit technical. How do we actually make this happen? Here are some key considerations for implementation.

Keyboard Representation

First, we need a way to represent the on-screen keyboard in our code. This could be an array of objects, each representing a key. Each key object would need properties like:

• letter: The letter the key represents.
• state: The current state of the key (e.g., default, correct, present, absent).

Updating the Keyboard State

After each guess, we'll need a function to update the state of each key. This function will compare the guess to the target word and update the keyboard state accordingly.

• If a letter in the guess is not in the target word, the corresponding key's state is set to absent.
• If a letter is in the correct position, the state is set to correct.
• If a letter is in the word but in the wrong position, the state is set to present.

Visual Representation

Next, we need to visually represent the state of each key on the screen. This could be done with CSS classes. For example:

• .keyboard-key: Default style.
• .keyboard-key.correct: Green background.
• .keyboard-key.present: Yellow background.
• .keyboard-key.absent: Grayed out or crossed out.

Handling Duplicate Letters (Advanced)

Handling duplicate letters requires a bit more logic. We need to ensure we don't prematurely mark a letter as absent if it appears elsewhere in the target word.

Here’s one approach:

1. Create a copy of the target word.
2. Iterate through the guess.
3. If a letter in the guess matches a letter in the target word copy, mark it as correct or present and remove that letter from the target word copy.
4. If a letter in the guess is not found in the target word copy, mark it as absent.

Benefits of This Feature: Why It Matters

Implementing this feature isn't just about adding bells and whistles. It brings some serious benefits to the table.

Improved User Experience

First and foremost, it drastically improves the user experience. Players get instant feedback on their guesses, reducing frustration and making the game more enjoyable. No more second-guessing whether you've already tried a letter – the keyboard tells you everything you need to know.

Strategic Gameplay

This feature adds a layer of strategy to the game. By knowing which letters are incorrect, players can make more informed decisions about their next guesses. This turns Wordle into a more engaging and thoughtful experience.

Reduced Guessing Time

Let's be honest, sometimes we get stuck in a rut, trying the same letters over and over. This feature helps break that cycle by visually eliminating incorrect options. This can significantly reduce the time it takes to solve the puzzle.

Testing: Ensuring Quality

Before we roll out this feature, we need to make sure it works flawlessly. Here are some key areas to test:

Correct Letter Marking

Verify that incorrect letters are correctly marked as crossed out or grayed out on the keyboard after each guess.

Accurate Letter Highlighting

Ensure that correct letters are highlighted in green and letters in the wrong position are highlighted in yellow.

Dynamic Updates

Confirm that the keyboard updates dynamically after each guess without any delays or glitches.

Duplicate Letter Handling

Test cases with duplicate letters to ensure that the game correctly identifies and marks letters that are truly absent.

Edge Cases

Consider edge cases such as guesses with all incorrect letters, guesses with all correct letters, and guesses with a mix of correct, incorrect, and misplaced letters.

Conclusion: Leveling Up Wordle

By adding the functionality to cross off incorrect letters from the on-screen keyboard, we significantly enhance the Wordle experience. This feature not only aids players in making more informed guesses but also streamlines the gameplay, making it more intuitive and enjoyable. From a technical standpoint, implementing this requires careful consideration of keyboard representation, state management, and visual updates. Thorough testing will be essential to ensure accuracy and a seamless user experience. So, let's get to work and level up our Wordle game! This improvement is set to make the game more strategic, user-friendly, and fun for everyone. Happy coding, and may your Wordle guesses be ever in your favor!