Variables

The first step towards really understanding programming is looking back at algebra. If you remember it from school, algebra starts with writing terms such as the following.

3 + 5 = 8

You start performing calculations when you introduce an unknown, for example, x below:

3 + x = 8

Shifting those around you can determine x:

x = 8 - 3
-> x = 5

When you introduce more than one you make your terms more flexible - you are using variables:

x + y = 8

You can change the values of x and y and the formula can still be true:

x = 4
y = 4

or

x = 3
y = 5

The same is true for programming languages. In programming, variables are containers for values that change. Variables can hold all kinds of values and also the results of computations. Variables have a name and a value separated by an equals sign (=). However, it is important to keep in mind that different programming languages have their own limitations and constraints on what can be used as variable names. This is because certain words may be reserved for specific functions or operations within the language.

Let's check out how it works in Javascript. The following code defines two variables, computes the result of adding the two, and defines this result as a value of a third variable.

let x = 5;
let y = 6;
let result = x + y;

There are certain guidelines that needs to be followed while naming variables. They are

• Variable names have to start with a letter, an underscore (_), or a dollar sign ($).
• After the first character, we can use letters, numbers, underscores, or dollar signs.
• JavaScript distinguishes between uppercase and lowercase letters (case-sensitive), so myVariable, MyVariable, and MYVARIABLE are all separate variables.
• To make your code easy to read and maintain, it's recommended to use descriptive variable names that accurately reflect their purpose.

let x = 20;

assert(x == 20);

ECMAScript 2015 or ES2015 also known as E6 is a significant update to the JavaScript programming language since 2009. In ES6 we have three ways of declaring variables.

var x = 5;
const y = 'Test';
let z = true;

The types of declaration depend upon the scope. Unlike the var keyword, which defines a variable globally or locally to an entire function regardless of block scope, let allows you to declare variables that are limited in scope to the block, statement, or expression in which they are used. For example.

function varTest(){
    var x=1;
    if(true){
        var x=2; // same variable
        console.log(x); //2
    }
    console.log(x); //2
}

function letTest(){
    let x=1;
    if(true){
        let x=2;
        console.log(x); // 2
    }
    console.log(x); // 1
}

const variables are immutable meaning that they are not allowed to be re-assigned.

const x = "hi!";
x = "bye"; // this will occurs an error