© 2023 AposTube

Learn JS #34

June 14 • 6:08 pm

Tags:

JavaScript Hoisting

Hoisting is JavaScript’s default behavior of moving declarations to the top.

JavaScript Declarations are Hoisted

In JavaScript, a variable can be declared after it has been used.

In other words; a variable can be used before it has been declared.

Example 1 gives the same result as Example 2:

Example 1

x = 5; // Assign 5 to x

elem = document.getElementById("demo"); // Find an element
elem.innerHTML = x;                     // Display x in the element

var x; // Declare x

Example 2

var x; // Declare x
x = 5; // Assign 5 to x

elem = document.getElementById("demo"); // Find an element
elem.innerHTML = x;                     // Display x in the element

To understand this, you have to understand the term “hoisting”.

Hoisting is JavaScript’s default behavior of moving all declarations to the top of the current scope (to the top of the current script or the current function).

The let and const Keywords

Variables defined with let and const are hoisted to the top of the block, but not initialized.

Meaning: The block of code is aware of the variable, but it cannot be used until it has been declared.

Using a let variable before it is declared will result in a ReferenceError.

The variable is in a “temporal dead zone” from the start of the block until it is declared:

Example

This will result in a ReferenceError:

carName = "Volvo";
let carName;

Using a const variable before it is declared, is a syntax errror, so the code will simply not run.

Example

This code will not run.

carName = "Volvo";
const carName;

JavaScript Initializations are Not Hoisted

JavaScript only hoists declarations, not initializations.

Example 1 does not give the same result as Example 2:

Example 1

var x = 5; // Initialize x
var y = 7; // Initialize y

elem = document.getElementById("demo"); // Find an element
elem.innerHTML = x + " " + y;           // Display x and y

Example 2

var x = 5; // Initialize x

elem = document.getElementById("demo"); // Find an element
elem.innerHTML = x + " " + y;           // Display x and y

var y = 7; // Initialize y

Does it make sense that y is undefined in the last example?

This is because only the declaration (var y), not the initialization (=7) is hoisted to the top.

Because of hoisting, y has been declared before it is used, but because initializations are not hoisted, the value of y is undefined.

Example 2 is the same as writing:

Example

var x = 5; // Initialize x
var y;     // Declare y

elem = document.getElementById("demo"); // Find an element
elem.innerHTML = x + " " + y;           // Display x and y

y = 7;    // Assign 7 to y

Declare Your Variables At the Top !

Hoisting is (to many developers) an unknown or overlooked behavior of JavaScript.

If a developer doesn’t understand hoisting, programs may contain bugs (errors).

To avoid bugs, always declare all variables at the beginning of every scope.

Since this is how JavaScript interprets the code, it is always a good rule.

Apostube

See author's posts

Categories

Prev
Next

39 Responses

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

© 2023 AposTube. Built with ❤️ using WordPress and Ketos Theme.