In JavaScript, var
, let
, and const
are three different ways to declare variables. Each one has its own specific characteristics and behavior, and it is important to understand the differences between them in order to choose the right one for your needs.
The var
keyword is used to declare variables that are function-scoped. This means that a var
variable is accessible within the function in which it is declared, as well as within any inner functions that are defined within that function. var
variables are also accessible within any block of code that is defined within the function, but they are not accessible outside the function.
function foo() {
var x = 5;
console.log(x); // 5
}
console.log(x); // ReferenceError: x is not defined
The let
keyword is used to declare variables that are block-scoped. This means that a let
variable is only accessible within the block of code in which it is declared, as well as within any inner blocks that are defined within that block. let
variables are not accessible outside the block in which they are declared.
if (true) {
let y = 10;
console.log(y); // 10
}
console.log(y); // ReferenceError: y is not defined
The const
keyword is used to declare variables that are read-only. This means that a const
variable can only be assigned a value once, and it cannot be reassigned or deleted. A const
variable is also block-scoped, just like a let
variable.
const z = 20;
z = 25; // TypeError: Assignment to constant variable.
delete z; // TypeError: Delete of an unqualified identifier in strict mode.
In general, it is a good practice to use const
for variables that you do not want to modify, and to use let
for variables that you need to reassign. You should only use var
if you need to create a function-scoped.