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Discussion on: What changes can be made with `const`

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Replies for: const is used when the value does not change Actually MDN: const The const declaration creates a read-only reference to a value. MDN: Primi...

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Mehul Lakhanpal •

Definitely. But when a person starts out you can't explain in such depth. And there are complex blogs so someone has to explain the easy way too :)

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peerreynders • • Edited

const is used when the value does not change

reinforces a faulty mental model

let value = 123;
value = 456;
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i.e. that value is a place and the 456 replaces 123 in that place - when in fact value is simply a name that refers to the place where 123 is and that name can later refer to a different place where 456 is. So with

const value = 123;
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value can only ever refer to one and the same place - the one where 123 is.

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Mehul Lakhanpal •

See no turns to an expert at day 1. People have to then understand that is a reference and a value. Everything has a dependency. And just reading it once won't build a model. Everyone has to study, practice and learn regularly to get good at anything.