Console.WriteLine repeating itself for some reason

Question

I'm an absolute beginner in C# and have written this code, and the output is making me confused:

static void PlayerInfo() //Asking information about the player
    {
        Console.Write("Type your name: ");
        string inputName = Console.ReadLine();

        if (inputName.Length < 2)
            PlayerInfo();
        else
            playerName = inputName;

        Console.WriteLine("Hello " + playerName + "!");
    }

If I type J first, it will ask me again till I type at least 2 characters. And if I type John Doe afterwards, it will give me this output twice Console.WriteLine("Hello " + playerName + "!");

I don't understand why, It looks like this in the console:

Type your name: J         //The length is smaller than 2
Type your name: John Doe  //Restart the function and type a valid length
Hello John Doe!           //This is OK
Hello John Doe!           //Why a second print?

It's probably not the best practice to use a recursive method. I'm doing it just to learn the language.

Answer 1

The issue occurs because of the recursion.
You call PlayerInfo() two times so you get the output twice, it's as simple as that.
If you'd typed "A", then "B", then "John" you'd get the output 3 times and so on.

The answer is to take out the recursion. If you wish to keep prompting until you receive a valid input then one solution is a while loop:

void Main()
{
    PlayerInfo();
}

static void PlayerInfo()
{
    string inputName = string.Empty;

    // This will loop until inputName is longer than 2 characters
    while (inputName.Length < 2)
    {
        Console.Write("Type your name: ");
        inputName = Console.ReadLine();
    }

    // Now that inputName is longer than 2 characters it prints the result only once
    Console.WriteLine("Hello " + inputName + "!");
}

Example:

Type your name: A
Type your name: B
Type your name: John
Hello John!

See it working on .NET Fiddle

Answer 2

As you said, the issue is with recursion.

I'm assuming that playerNameis being declared outside of this method.
What's happening is that playerName is getting properly assigned on your second call.
Since the variable is at a class level, the value is preserved and printed on your outermost call as well.
Since that call went through the if (inputName.Length < 2) branch of your condition, thus not reassigning the value of playerName.