js eval gives some nasty output

Question

I have recently began playing js challenges, and I've come across this code:
var a = "1";
var b = "2*2";
console.log(eval(a+b));

The output of this code is 24, but I don't understand how it came to this output. By my logic, it would be like this:

eval first evaluates the variable a which is a string and returns 1;
then it evaluates b which is a string also, and returns 4;
now, concatenating those strings, I think the result should be 14.

Am I missing something here?

Answer 1

a+b is evaluated first, string concatenation occurs and the string becomes "12*2"

https://code.sololearn.com/WsRqTWz3hOs7/?ref=app

Answer 2

Thank you for clarifying it for me, Gordon!

Answer 3

Welcome. Keep up 💪