Scope determines the accessibility (visibility) of variables.
JavaScript has 3 types of scope:
- Block scope
- Function scope
- Global scope
Block Scope
Before ES6 (2015), JavaScript had only Global Scope and Function Scope.
ES6 introduced two important new JavaScript keywords: let and const.
These two keywords provide Block Scope in JavaScript.
Variables declared inside a { } block cannot be accessed from outside the block:
Example
{
let x = 2;
}
// x can NOT be used here
Variables declared with the var keyword can NOT have block scope.
Variables declared inside a { } block can be accessed from outside the block.
Example
{
var x = 2;
}
// x CAN be used here
Local Scope
Variables declared within a JavaScript function, become LOCAL to the function.
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h2>JavaScript Scope</h2>
<p><b>carName</b> is undefined outside myFunction():</p>
<p id="demo1"></p>
<p id="demo2"></p>
<script>
myFunction();
function myFunction() {
let carName = "Volvo";
document.getElementById("demo1").innerHTML = typeof carName + " " + carName;
}
document.getElementById("demo2").innerHTML = typeof carName;
</script>
</body>
</html>
Result:
JavaScript Scope
carName is undefined outside myFunction():
string Volvo
undefined
Local variables have Function Scope:
They can only be accessed from within the function.
Since local variables are only recognized inside their functions, variables with the same name can be used in different functions.
Local variables are created when a function starts, and deleted when the function is completed.
Function Scope
JavaScript has function scope: Each function creates a new scope.
Variables defined inside a function are not accessible (visible) from outside the function.
Variables declared with var, let and const are quite similar when declared inside a function.
They all have Function Scope:
function myFunction() {
var carName = “Volvo”; // Function Scope
}
function myFunction() {
let carName = “Volvo”; // Function Scope
}
function myFunction() {
const carName = “Volvo”; // Function Scope
}
Global JavaScript Variables
A variable declared outside a function, becomes GLOBAL.
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h2>JavaScript Scope</h2>
<p>A GLOBAL variable can be accessed from any script or function.</p>
<p id="demo"></p>
<script>
let carName = "Volvo";
myFunction();
function myFunction() {
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "I can display " + carName;
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
Result:
JavaScript Scope
A GLOBAL variable can be accessed from any script or function.
I can display Volvo
A global variable has Global Scope:
All scripts and functions on a web page can access it.
Global Scope
Variables declared Globally (outside any function) have Global Scope.
Global variables can be accessed from anywhere in a JavaScript program.
Variables declared with var, let and const are quite similar when declared outside a block.
They all have Global Scope:
var x = 2; // Global
scopelet x = 2; // Global
scopeconst x = 2; // Global scope
JavaScript Variables
In JavaScript, objects and functions are also variables.
Scope determines the accessibility of variables, objects, and functions from different parts of the code.
Automatically Global
If you assign a value to a variable that has not been declared, it will automatically become a GLOBAL variable.
This code example will declare a global variable carName, even if the value is assigned inside a function.
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h2>JavaScript Global Variables</h2>
<p>If you assign a value to a variable that has not been declared, it will automatically become a GLOBAL variable:</p>
<p id="demo"></p>
<script>
myFunction();
// code here can use carName as a global variable
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "I can display " + carName;
function myFunction() {
carName = "Volvo";
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
Result:
JavaScript Global Variables
If you assign a value to a variable that has not been declared, it will automatically become a GLOBAL variable:
I can display Volvo
Strict Mode
All modern browsers support running JavaScript in “Strict Mode”.
You will learn more about how to use strict mode in a later chapter of this tutorial.
In “Strict Mode”, undeclared variables are not automatically global.
Global Variables in HTML
With JavaScript, the global scope is the JavaScript environment.
In HTML, the global scope is the window object.
Global variables defined with the var keyword belong to the window object:
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h2>JavaScript Scope</h2>
<p>In HTML, global variables defined with <b>var</b>, will become window variables.</p>
<p id="demo"></p>
<script>
var carName = "Volvo";
// code here can use window.carName
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "I can display " + window.carName;
</script>
</body>
</html>
Result:
JavaScript Scope
In HTML, global variables defined with var, will become window variables.
I can display Volvo
Global variables defined with the let keyword do not belong to the window object:
Example
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h2>JavaScript Global Variables</h2>
<p>In HTML, global variables defined with <b>let</b>, will not become window variables.</p>
<p id="demo"></p>
<script>
let carName = "Volvo";
// code here can not use window.carName
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "I can not display " + window.carName;
</script>
</body>
</html>
Result:
JavaScript Global Variables
In HTML, global variables defined with let, will not become window variables.
I can not display undefined
Warning
Do NOT create global variables unless you intend to.
Your global variables (or functions) can overwrite window variables (or functions).
Any function, including the window object, can overwrite your global variables and functions.
The Lifetime of JavaScript Variables
The lifetime of a JavaScript variable starts when it is declared.
Function (local) variables are deleted when the function is completed.
In a web browser, global variables are deleted when you close the browser window (or tab).
Function Arguments
Function arguments (parameters) work as local variables inside functions.