Enough JavaScript to get you Started : #16 var vs let vs const

Enough JavaScript to get you Started : #16 var vs let vs const

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6 min read

Before we start

πŸ‘‰ Before we start this article i would like to clarify some technical jargons for you
πŸ‘‰ Scope : Scope is nothing but a code block where the variable is accessible for usage
πŸ‘‰ Global Scope : Global Scope means variable is declared globally (not in some condition or function) hence it can be used any where throughout the execution of program
πŸ‘‰ Local/ Functional Scope : this simply means that when we declare a variable on function level or somewhere locally in code block then it's not accessible outside of that particular scope (imagine variables declared in functions , loops ,conditionals...)
πŸ‘‰ Block Scope : Blocks are nothing but piece of code written inside any curly braces {...} [ex. if block , or function's block]

Var

πŸ‘‰ Var is the oldest way of declaring variable
πŸ‘‰ Var can be globally and functionally scoped
πŸ‘‰ If we Declare var inside function it becomes functionally scoped if we declare it outside function it becomes globally scoped and is available anywhere in program
πŸ‘‰ can be redeclared or updated

πŸ‘‰Example of Scope

var a = 10; // global variable

function fun()
{
    // functional scoped variable
    var b = 20;
    console.log(a);
    console.log(b);
}
fun();
console.log(a);
console.log(b);

πŸ‘‰ output

-> inside function
10 βœ”
20 βœ”
-> outside function
10 βœ”
uncaught reference : b is not defined ❌

πŸ‘‰ Notice that functions can access both global and functional variables.

πŸ‘‰ Example of Re-declaration

// variables with var can be re-decalred βœ”
var a = 10;
var b = 20;
// you won't get any error

πŸ‘‰ Example of updatable variables

// variables with var can be updated βœ”
var a =10;
a=20;
// you won't get any error

πŸ‘‰ Problems with var
πŸ‘‰ Redefining variables won't throw any errors which means it's tricky to remember which variable is already there and which variable is new.


Let

πŸ‘‰ Let is the modern way of declaring variables introduces in ES2015
πŸ‘‰ Let is now recommended way of declaring variables
πŸ‘‰ Let is block scoped
πŸ‘‰ Let can be updated but not redeclared

πŸ‘‰Example of Declaration

// let can be updated βœ”
let a = 30; βœ”
a = 40; βœ”
// but not redeclared ❌
let b = 40; βœ”
let b = 90 ;❌

// error : Identifier 'b' has already been declared

πŸ‘‰Example of block scope

let sayHi = "hi";
if(sayHi === "hi")
{
    let newMsg = "how are you?";
   console.log(sayHi); // outputs "hi"
}

console.log(sayHi); βœ”
console.log(newMsg); ❌ // 'newMsg is not defined'


Const

πŸ‘‰ Variables declared with const remains same throughout the execution
πŸ‘‰ variables declared with const are not redeclarable or updatable
πŸ‘‰ if const variables declared outside any block they becomes global scoped , but if they are declared within block they becomes block scoped
πŸ‘‰ values can not be changes or new values can not be assigned to const variables

πŸ‘‰ Example:

const sayHi = "hi";
const sayHi = "hello"; ❌ // will throw error

//and ...

const msg = "buy bread from market";
msg = "new msg here"; ❌ // error:  assignment to constant variable.

πŸ‘‰ But...

const numbers = [1,2,3];
number[0] = 4; βœ” // works fine

// but...
numbers = [5,6,7]; ❌ // won't work

πŸ‘‰ the first case will work because we're within the rules , we're not redeclaring the const variable nor we're updating it. but we're mutating it. πŸ˜€


Summary

πŸ‘‰ var: Global/function scoped depending on declaration undefined when accessing a variable before it's declared. can be redeclared and updated.
πŸ‘‰ let: block scoped. can be updated but we can't redeclare.
πŸ‘‰const: block scoped. can not be reassigned nor we can redeclare.

Let me know in comment section if you have any doubt or feedback. it's always worth to give time to the thriving developer community :)

Keep Coding ❀

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