How To Use let, const and var in JavaScript.

In Programming, variables are containers used to store data.

For example, when you type in your name into a field on a website, that data is stored in a variable. When you search for a particular item on a website, the returned information is first stored in a variable before displayed to you.

The assignment operator is used to “assign” data to a variable. It then becomes a value at that point.

var name = "Kingsley";

In JavaScript, there are three keywords used to define variables. They are let, const and var. Before 2015, using the var keyword was the only way to declare a JavaScript variable.

However, the advent of EmcaScript 2016 (ES16) came with two other variable keywords: let and const.

Before we proceed to understand these keywords, we have to understand three concepts in variables:

• Global Scope: A variable declared globally (outside of a function) has a global scope and can be accessed anywhere across the entire program.

var name = "Kingsley";

// global scope
   function myFunction() {
   //code goes here
   }

• Function Scope: A variable declared inside a function (i.e locally) has a function scope

// global scope
   function Function() {
   var name = "Kingsley";
   // function scope
   }

Now that we have the various scopes defined, let’s define the three variable keywords and what variable scoping they allow:

• FOR BLOCK SCOPING

Var

Variables declared with the var keyword does not have block scoping. That is, any variable declared within a block can be accessed outside.

Let

Variables defined with Let can have block scoping. That is, any variable declared within a block {} cannot be accessed outside of that block.

Const

Like let, variables defined with const can have block scoping. That is, any variable declared within a block {} cannot be accessed outside of that block.

const and let both have block scoping.

var name = “Kingsley”;
// Here name is Kingsley
{
  let name = “Peter”;
  // name is Peter inside this block
}
// Here name is Kingsley

var name = “Kingsley”;
// Here name is Kingsley
{
  const name = “Peter”;
  // name is Peter inside this block
}
// Here name is Kingsley

Also, let and var behave differently when a redeclaration is made inside the block.

var name = “Kingsley”;
// Here name is Kingsley
{
  var name = “Peter”;
  // name is Peter inside this block
}
// Here name is Peter

var name = “Kingsley”;
// Here name is Kingsley
{
  let name = “Peter”;
  // name is Peter inside this block
}
// Here name is Kingsley

A variable defined with const cannot be reassigned another value:

const name = “Kingsley”;
name = “Peter”;      // This will give an error

N/B: Arrays and Objects defined with const can have their properties changed. The immutability only pertains to primitive values like numbers and strings.

You can create an object with const:

const writer = {name:"Kingsley", age:"21", sex:"male"};

You CAN change a property:

writer.name = "Peter";

You can add a new property:

writer.surname = "Ubah";

However, you cannot reassign a complete object:

const writer = {name:"Kingsley", age:"21", sex:"male"};
writer = {name:"Peter", age:"25", sex:"male"}; //error

The same for an array of items:

const writers = ["Kingsley", "Peter", "Joe"];
writers = ["Sam", "Clark", "Kingsley"];    // error

N/B: If you're looking to see this new ES6 Syntax in action, I'll highly recommend HTML To React By Sleepless Yogi

Inside loops

Var and let also behave differently in loops.

var i = 5;
for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
  // code
}
// Here i is 10

let i = 5;
for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
  // code
}
// Here i is 5

• FOR FUNCTION SCOPE

Variables declared with the let keyword has function scoping. That is, the variable is not accessible outside the scope.

// name can’t be accessed by this global code
function Foo() {
var name = "Kingsley";
// func scope
}

• FOR GLOBAL SCOPE

Variables declared with var keyword has a global scope. It is accessible from all over the JavaScript code (and can be accessed with the window object).

Variables declared with let keyword has a global scope. However, it can’t be accessed with the windows object.

These two keywords also behave differently when a declaration is made within the global scope:

var x = 1;

// Now x is 1

var x = 5;

// Now x is 5

The above snippet shows that redeclaration within the same scope is allowed with the var keyword.

let x = 1;       // Allowed
let x = 5;       // Not allowed

{
  let x = 2;   // Allowed
  let x = 3;   // Not allowed
}

The above snippet shows that redecleration within the same scope or same block is not allowed with the let keyword.

var x = 1;       // Allowed
let x = 5;       // Not allowed

{
  var x = 2;   // Allowed
  let x = 3   // Not allowed
}

The above snippet shows that while you can successfully redeclare a variable with in another block with var, you can’t with let.

var x = 1;       // Allowed
let x = 5;       // Not allowed

{
  var x = 2;   // Allowed
  let x = 3   // Not allowed
}

The above snippet shows that while you can successfully redeclare a variable with in another block with var, you can’t with const.

 let x = 1;       // Allowed

{
  let x = 5;   // Allowed
}

{
  let x = 2;   // Allowed
}

The above snippet shows that redeclaration is another scope or another block is possible with let.

const x = 1;       // Allowed

{
  const x = 5;   // Allowed
}

{
  const x = 2;   // Allowed
}

The above snippet shows that redeclaration is another scope or another block is possible with const.

Variable scopes is crucial for every sofware developer to grasp.

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Comments

[Ian Wijma]

The only use cases for var are confusing once. So I will agree with this one. I remember seeing blogs that stated let is the new var.

[Ivan Jeremic]

Use just const and let

[Zigra V]

Great article.

[Kinanee Samson]

top draw mate... I like how simple you made it look.. can't remember when last i used var ?