JavaScript Variables

JavaScript variables are containers for storing data values.

In this example, x, y, and z, are variables:

var x = 5;
var y = 6;
var z = x + y;

From the example above, you can expect:

• x stores the value 5
• y stores the value 6
• z stores the value 11

Much Like Algebra

In this example, price1, price2, and total, are variables:

var price1 = 5;
var price2 = 6;
var total = price1 + price2;

JavaScript Identifiers

All JavaScript variables must be identified with unique names.

These unique names are called identifiers.

Identifiers can be short names (like x and y) or more descriptive names (age, sum, totalVolume).

The general rules for constructing names for variables (unique identifiers) are:

• Names can contain letters, digits, underscores, and dollar signs.
• Names must begin with a letter
• Names can also begin with $ and _ (but we will not use it in this tutorial)
• Names are case sensitive (y and Y are different variables)
• Reserved words (like JavaScript keywords) cannot be used as names

JavaScript identifiers are case-sensitive.

The Assignment Operator

In JavaScript, the equal sign (=) is an "assignment" operator, not an "equal to" operator.

This is different from algebra. The following does not make sense in algebra:

x = x + 5

JavaScript Data Types

JavaScript variables can hold numbers like 100 and text values like "John Doe".

In programming, text values are called text strings.

JavaScript can handle many types of data, but for now, just think of numbers and strings.

Strings are written inside double or single quotes. Numbers are written without quotes.

If you put a number in quotes, it will be treated as a text string.

var pi = 3.14;
var person = "John Doe";
var answer = 'Yes I am!';

Declaring (Creating) JavaScript Variables

Creating a variable in JavaScript is called "declaring" a variable.

You declare a JavaScript variable with the var keyword:

var carName;

After the declaration, the variable has no value. (Technically it has the value of undefined)

To assign a value to the variable, use the equal sign:

carName = "Volvo";

One Statement, Many Variables

You can declare many variables in one statement.

Start the statement with var and separate the variables by comma:

var person = "John Doe", carName = "Volvo", price = 200;

Value = undefined

In computer programs, variables are often declared without a value. The value can be something that has to be calculated, or something that will be provided later, like user input.

A variable declared without a value will have the value undefined.

The variable carName will have the value undefined after the execution of this statement:

var carName;

Re-Declaring JavaScript Variables

If you re-declare a JavaScript variable, it will not lose its value.

The variable carName will still have the value "Volvo" after the execution of these statements:

var carName = "Volvo";
var carName;

JavaScript Arithmetic

As with algebra, you can do arithmetic with JavaScript variables, using operators like = and +:

var x = 5 + 2 + 3;

You can also add strings, but strings will be concatenated:

var x = "John" + " " + "Doe";