In JavaScript, users can declare a variable using 3 keywords that are var, let, and const. In this article, we will see the differences between the var, let, and const keywords. We will discuss the scope and other required concepts about each keyword.
JavaScript var keyword: The var is the oldest keyword to declare a variable in JavaScript.
Scope: Global scoped or function scoped. The scope of the var keyword is the global or function scope. It means variables defined outside the function can be accessed globally, and variables defined inside a particular function can be accessed within the function.
Example 1: Variable ‘a’ is declared globally. So, the scope of the variable ‘a’ is global, and it can be accessible everywhere in the program. The output shown is in the console.
Javascript
var a = 10function f() { console.log(a)}f();console.log(a); |
Output:
10 10
Example 2: The variable ‘a’ is declared inside the function. If the user tries to access it outside the function, it will display the error. Users can declare the 2 variables with the same name using the var keyword. Also, the user can reassign the value into the var variable. The output is shown in the console.
Javascript
function f() { // It can be accessible any // where within this function var a = 10; console.log(a)}f();// A cannot be accessible// outside of functionconsole.log(a); |
Output:
10 ReferenceError: a is not defined
Example 3: The user can re-declare the variable using var and the user can update the var variable. The output is shown in the console.
Javascript
var a = 10// User can re-declare// variable using varvar a = 8// User can update var variablea = 7 |
Output:
7
Example 4: If users use the var variable before the declaration, it initializes with the undefined value. The output is shown in the console.
Javascript
console.log(a);var a = 10; |
Output:
undefined
JavaScript let keyword: The let keyword is an improved version of the var keyword.
Scope: block scoped: The scope of a let variable is only block scoped. It can’t be accessible outside the particular block ({block}). Let’s see the below example.
Example 1: The output is shown in the console.
Javascript
let a = 10;function f() { let b = 9 console.log(b); console.log(a);}f(); |
Output:
9 10
Example 2: The code returns an error because we are accessing the let variable outside the function block. The output is shown in the console.
Javascript
let a = 10;function f() { if (true) { let b = 9 // It prints 9 console.log(b); } // It gives error as it // defined in if block console.log(b);}f()// It prints 10console.log(a) |
Output:
9 ReferenceError: b is not defined
Example 3: Users cannot re-declare the variable defined with the let keyword but can update it.
Javascript
let a = 10// It is not allowedlet a = 10// It is alloweda = 10 |
Output:
Uncaught SyntaxError: Identifier 'a' has already been declared
Example 4: Users can declare the variable with the same name in different blocks using the let keyword.
Javascript
let a = 10if (true) { let a = 9 console.log(a) // It prints 9}console.log(a) // It prints 10 |
Output:
9 10
Example 5: If users use the let variable before the declaration, it does not initialize with undefined just like a var variable, and returns an error.
Javascript
console.log(a);let a = 10; |
Output:
Uncaught ReferenceError: Cannot access 'a' before initialization
const keyword in JavaScript: The const keyword has all the properties that are the same as the let keyword, except the user cannot update it.
Scope: block scoped: When users declare a const variable, they need to initialize it, otherwise, it returns an error. The user cannot update the const variable once it is declared.
Example 1: We are changing the value of the const variable so that it returns an error. The output is shown in the console.
Javascript
const a = 10;function f() { a = 9 console.log(a)}f(); |
Output:
TypeError:Assignment to constant variable.
Example 2: Users cannot change the properties of the const object, but they can change the value of the properties of the const object.
Javascript
const a = { prop1: 10, prop2: 9}// It is alloweda.prop1 = 3// It is not alloweda = { b: 10, prop2: 9} |
Output:
Uncaught SyntaxError:Unexpected identifier
Differences between var, let, and const:
| var | let | const |
|---|---|---|
| The scope of a var variable is functional scope. | The scope of a let variable is block scope. | The scope of a const variable is block scope. |
| It can be updated and re-declared into the scope. | It can be updated but cannot be re-declared into the scope. | It cannot be updated or re-declared into the scope. |
| It can be declared without initialization. | It can be declared without initialization. | It cannot be declared without initialization. |
| It can be accessed without initialization as its default value is “undefined”. | It cannot be accessed without initialization otherwise it will give ‘referenceError’. | It cannot be accessed without initialization, as it cannot be declared without initialization. |
| hoisting done, with initializing as ‘default’ value | Hoisting is done, but not initialized (this is the reason for the error when we access the let variable before declaration/initialization | Hoisting is done, but not initialized (this is the reason for the error when we access the const variable before declaration/initialization |
Note: Sometimes, users face problems while working with the var variable as they change its value of it in a particular block. So, users should use the let and const keywords to declare a variable in JavaScript.
