In JavaScript, variable accessibility, or scope, refers to the context in which a variable is declared and where it can be accessed. JavaScript has two main types of scope: global scope and local scope.
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Global Scope:
Variables declared outside of any function or block have global scope. These variables can be accessed from any part of your code, including inside functions.
var globalVar = "I'm global"; function exampleFunction() { console.log(globalVar); // Accessible } exampleFunction(); console.log(globalVar); // Accessible
However, using global variables extensively is generally discouraged, as it can lead to naming conflicts and make code harder to maintain.
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Local Scope:
Variables declared inside a function have local scope, meaning they are only accessible within that function.
function exampleFunction() { var localVar = "I'm local"; console.log(localVar); // Accessible } exampleFunction(); console.log(localVar); // Not accessible (ReferenceError)
The localVar variable is only accessible within the exampleFunction.
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Block Scope (let and const):
Introduced in ECMAScript 6 (ES6), the let and const keywords allow the creation of variables with block scope. Variables declared using let or const are only accessible within the block (enclosed by curly braces) where they are defined.
if (true) { let blockVar = "I'm block-scoped"; console.log(blockVar); // Accessible } console.log(blockVar); // Not accessible (ReferenceError)
This is different from the var keyword, which has function scope or global scope but doesn't have block scope.
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Function Parameters:
Parameters of a function are treated as local variables within that function.
function exampleFunction(param) { console.log(param); // Accessible } exampleFunction("I'm a parameter"); console.log(param); // Not accessible (ReferenceError)
The param variable is only accessible within the exampleFunction.
Understanding variable scope is crucial for writing maintainable and bug-free JavaScript code. It helps prevent unintended side effects and makes it easier to reason about the behavior of your code.