JavaScript variables
JavaScript variables are used to store values, such as numbers, strings, and objects. They are an essential part of any programming language and are used to make the code more readable and reusable. In this tutorial, we will cover the basics of JavaScript variables, including:
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Declaring Variables: In JavaScript, variables are declared using the keyword "var", "let" or "const". "var" is the oldest way to declare variables, but it is not recommended to use it anymore because it has some issues like variable hoisting and function scoping. "let" and "const" are introduced in ECMAScript 6, and they have block scoping and no hoisting, "let" is used for variables that will be reassigned while "const" is used for variables that will not be reassigned.
1let x; //declaring a variable 2x = 10; //assigning a value to the variable 3 4const y = 20; //declaring and assigning a value to a constant variable
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Variable Naming Conventions: In JavaScript, variable names can include letters, numbers, and the underscore and dollar sign characters, but they cannot start with a number. They should be descriptive, and camelCase is the recommended naming convention. For example:
1let myVariable; 2let my_variable; //underscore is not recommended 3let my$variable;
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Variable Types: JavaScript is a loosely typed language, which means that the type of a variable is determined by the value that it holds. There are six main types of variables in JavaScript:
- Number: Numbers can be integers or floating-point values. For example:
1let x = 10; 2let y = 3.14;
- String: Strings are used to store text. They are enclosed in either single or double quotes. For example:
1let name = "William Max"; 2let message = 'Hello World!';
- Boolean: Booleans can only have two values: true or false. For example:
1let isTrue = true; 2let isFalse = false;
- Undefined: A variable that has been declared but has not been assigned a value is undefined. For example:
1let x; 2console.log(x); // undefined
- Null: A variable that has been assigned the value null is considered to have no value. For example:
1let x = null; 2console.log(x); // null
- Object: An object is a collection of properties, and each property has a name and a value. For example:
1let person = { 2name: "William Max", 3age: 30, 4isStudent: false 5};
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Variable Scope: In JavaScript, variables have either global or local scope. Global variables are declared outside of any function and can be accessed by any code in the program. Local variables are declared within a function and can only be accessed within that function.
1let x = 10; //global variable 2 3function myFunction() { 4let y = 20; //local variable 5} 6console.log(x); //10 7console.log(y); // ReferenceError: y is not defined
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Variable Hoisting: When you use var to declare a variable, it is hoisted to the top of its scope. This means that the variable is declared at the top of the scope, even if the assignment is made further down in the code. However, this behavior is not recommended and should be avoided. Instead, you should use "let" or "const" to declare variables, as they are not hoisted and will cause a ReferenceError if accessed before they are declared.
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Variable Reassignment: In JavaScript, you can reassign the value of a variable using the assignment operator (=). This can be useful for updating the value of a variable as the program runs. However, if you use "const" to declare a variable, you will not be able to reassign it, and will get an TypeError if you try to do so.
1let x = 10; 2x = 20; // reassigning the value of x 3console.log(x); // 20 4 5const y = 50; 6y = 60; // TypeError: Assignment to constant variable.
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Variable Coercion: In JavaScript, variables can be coerced into different types depending on the context in which they are used. For example, if a string is used in a mathematical operation, it will be coerced into a number. This behavior can lead to unexpected results, so it's important to be aware of it when working with variables.
1let x = "100"; 2let y = 200; 3console.log(x + y); // "100200" (string) 4console.log(x - y); // -100 (number)
Note: Remember to use "let" and "const" instead of "var", use camelCase naming convention, be aware of variable scope and hoisting, be careful with reassignment and coercion, and always use meaningful names for your variables.