Why do javascript variables in closure functions not reset to a default when called multiple times?

Question

In the code below please can someone explain to me why multiple calls to counter result in the value of i increasing each time it is called?

My understanding is that as we specifically set i = 0; in makeCounter, each time makeCounter is called through the counter variable, i should be reset to 0. I cannot understand why this is not the case.

function makeCounter() {
  // `i` is only accessible inside `makeCounter`.
  var i = 0;

  return function() {
    console.log( ++i );
  };
}

// Note that `counter` and `counter2` each have their own scoped `i`.

var counter = makeCounter();
counter(); // logs: 1
counter(); // logs: 2

Answer 1

each time makeCounter is called through the "counter" variable

That is wrong.

You're only calling makeCounter() once – at var counter = makeCounter();.
counter is a reference to the returned function, which closes over the i variable.

Calling counter() will execute this returned function, just like any other function.

The behavior you're expecting would happen if you write makeCounter()() multiple times.