JavaScript Variables
Variables are "containers" for storing information.
Do You Remember Algebra From School?
Do you remember algebra from school? !"# y!$# %!&y
Do you remember that a letter 'li(e ) coul* be use* to hol* a value 'li(e ")# an* that you coul* use
the information above to calculate the value of % to be ++?
,hese letters are calle* variables# an* variables can be use* to hol* values '!") or epressions
'%!&y).
JavaScript Variables
As -ith algebra# JavaScript variables are use* to hol* values or epressions.
A variable can have a short name# li(e # or a more *escriptive name# li(e carname.
Rules for JavaScript variable names.
Variable names are case sensitive 'y an* Y are t-o *ifferent variables)
Variable names must begin -ith a letter or the un*erscore character
Note: /ecause JavaScript is case0sensitive# variable names are case0sensitive.
1ample
A variable2s value can change *uring the eecution of a script. You can refer to a variable by its
name to *isplay or change its value.
,his eample -ill sho- you ho-
Declaring '3reating) JavaScript Variables
3reating variables in JavaScript is most often referre* to as "*eclaring" variables.
You can *eclare JavaScript variables -ith the var statement.
var x;
var carname;
After the *eclaration sho-n above# the variables are empty 'they have no values yet).
4o-ever# you can also assign values to the variables -hen you *eclare them.
var x=5;
var carname="Volvo";
After the eecution of the statements above# the variable x -ill hol* the value 5# an* carname -ill
hol* the value Volvo.
Note: 5hen you assign a tet value to a variable# use 6uotes aroun* the value.
Assigning Values to 7n*eclare* JavaScript Variables
8f you assign values to variables that have not yet been *eclare*# the variables -ill automatically be
*eclare*.
,hese statements.
x=5;
carname="Volvo";
have the same effect as.
var x=5;
var carname="Volvo";
Re*eclaring JavaScript Variables
8f you re*eclare a JavaScript variable# it -ill not lose its original value.
var x=5;
var x;
After the eecution of the statements above# the variable -ill still have the value of ". ,he value
of is not reset 'or cleare*) -hen you re*eclare it.
JavaScript Arithmetic
As -ith algebra# you can *o arithmetic operations -ith JavaScript variables.
y=x-5;
z=y+5;
You -ill learn more about the operators that can be use* in the net chapter of this tutorial.