Beginners guide to JavaScript Variables
Tags: javascript, webdev, programming, codenewbie
Published: 2022-12-01 00:28:39


Hello World, JavaScript is one of the most popular web technologies that when mastered will open a new door of creativity and power in building web applications.
With the JavaScript language, we deal with a lot of data or information, this data or information needs to be stored somewhere we can quickly have access to.
The box or container for storing data are `variables`.
In this post, we take a look at `variables` in JavaScript, we will learn what variables are, how to create variables, how to store values and how to access the stored values.

Let's get started

What are variables?

With most web applications, you may want to work with some information or data. For instance, if you plan to build the next social media application, you may want to keep information like who created an account, who posted, who liked a post etc.
The way to keep track of these informations or data is store them in `variables`.

> Variables are boxes that stores values or information or data.

The value or data stored can then be used during the program execution.
Every variable has three main structures

- The name : to uniquely identify the variable
- The value : referring to the data or information stored in the variable
- The memory address : referring to the location in the computer's memory where the variable is stored.

Let's learn how to create variables.


Declaring a variable
To be able to store data in a variable, you need to declare it.

- You declare a variable with the `var` (less recommended) or `let` or `const` keywords.
- Followed by the *name * you want to give to the variable.

For instance

    var firstName;

or

    let firstName;

From the above, I have created a 'container' or box with a label **`firstName`.
After declaring the variable, you can now **store the data or value into the variable. The syntax will be
`var variableName = value;`
Let's now assign the `firstName` variable a `value`

    let firstName = "Vivian";

We have now stored the data or value "Vivian" in our `firstName` `variable` (or container).
You can also declare multiple varialbes and assign values to each of them.

    let firstName = "Vivian";
    let lastName = "Sylvanus";
    let email = "vivaluv98@gmail.com"

The above declare three variables `firstName`, `lastName`, and `email` and store three distinct piece of data or value in them.
We can also declare multiple variables at a go, each variable declaration must be followed by a `,` (comma).

    //declaring 3 variables together
    let firstName = "Vivian", lastName ="Sylvanus", email="vivaluv98@gmail.com";

Rules for variable name
The following are some rules to take note of when declaring variables

- Variable names cannot contain spaces
- The first letter of the variable can be [a-z, A-z], dollar sign ($), or underscore(_)
- Any digit can be used after the first letter
- Variable names are case sensitive. For instance `let firstName` and `let FirstName` are not the same

Undefined vrs Undeclared Variables
An `undefined` variable is a variable that has been declared, but has not been assigned a value. Because it has not been assigned a value, the variable uses `undefined` as its initial value.
Let's declare a variable not assign it a value and see what the output will be

    let firstName;
    console.log(firstName)

The output will be `undefined`
However, an `undeclared` variable is a variable that has not been declared. Accessing an undeclared variable will produce a `ReferenceError`.
For instance

    console.log(message);
    //ReferenceError: message has not been declared. 

Retrieving Values
To easily grasp the concept of `variable`, you can imagine it as box with a unique name or label on it, used for storing data. We can put any value or data in the box.
To access the data or value in the box, you need to call the variable name (type the unique name you gave to the variable).

    let firstName = "Vivian"
    //retrieving the value
    firstName;

To dispay the output of a variable, you can use the `console.log()` method and insert the variable name in the `()` parenthesis.
So, if you want to view what data is stored in the `firstName` variable , you can write

    console.log(firstName);
    /*This will output the data stored in firstName in the developer console.*/

You can also change the value or data stored in the variable by assigning the variable a new data.
See the code below:

    firstName = "Chiamaka"; //change the value stored in the variable to Chiamaka 
    console.log(firstName); //Chiamaka 

Now when you call the `firstName` variable, it will contain the value Chiamaka instead of Vivian
Declaring a variable twice
A variable should be declared only once, a repeated declaration of the same variable is an error

    let firstName = "Vivian";
    let firstName = "Chiamaka ";
    /*SyntaxError: 'firstName' has already been declared */

Types of variables
All variables exist within a scope, which determines which part of the code can have access to the variables, and the life span of the variables.
There are two types of variables supported in JavaScript

- Local variables
- Global variables

Local Variables

> A local variable is a variable that is declared inside a code block, a function body or inside a loop body.
- In other words, if we declare a variable inside a curly braces `{}` or block scope, it is a local variable. That variable can only be accessed inside that scope or `{}`
- Also, if you declare a variable inside a `function`, JavaScript will add the variable to the function's scope, the variable will only exist inside the function
- It is recommended to use `let` keyword when declaring local variables.

Let's examine the code below:

    function someFunc(){
        let firstName ="Vivian";
    //accessing the local varialbe
        console.log(firstName)
    }
    someFunc() // output "Vivian"
    
    //accessing the variable outside the scope {}
    console.log('access out scope', firstName)
    // Uncaught ReferenceError: firstName is not defined
- Since firstName variable is declared inside the curly braces `{}` or a function scope, it is a local variable and cannot be accessed outside `{}`.
- If you try to access `firstName` outside of the function, as in the example above, you will get a `ReferenceError` because the `firstName` variable was not defined.

Global variable

> A variable declared anywhere within the script and not declared inside a block scope or function scope is a global variable

In simple words, if the variable was not declared inside a function's body or in a block of code `{}`, then it s a global variable. **
Global variables can be accessed **anywhere in your code.
It is recommended to use the `var` keyword for global variables.
Naming things right
It is recommended that the name you give the variable, should have an obvious meaning, describing the data that it stores.
A quick glance at variable names can reveal if the program was written by a novice or an experienced developer.
Some good to follow rules are

- Use identifiable and human-readable names like `userName` , `firstName` or `tasks`
- Avoid using abbreviations or short names like `a`, , `usr` etc.
Conclusion

In summary, you have learnt that:

- Variables are like boxes for keeping data or information
- We can declare variables using `var`, `let` and `const` keywords.
- To access the value of the variable, call the variable name
- Lastly, variables should be named in a way that will help easily understand what is inside them.

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Written with love from Lagos Nigeria,( thank you )