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Node.js - Getting Started with Variables

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There are three main types of variables that are used in Node.js, const and var and let. Let's say you have a file named app.js that contains the following.

const my_constant = "Hello";
var my_variable = "World";
let my_let = "foo";

console.log(my_constant);
console.log(my_variable);
console.log(my_let);

 

If you use the node CLI to run app.js, the following should be displayed as stdout on your console.

~]$ node app.js
Hello
World

 

Here are examples of the different types of variables you can create.

const my_string  = "Hello World";
const my_list    = ["Hello", "World"]
const my_boolean = true;
const my_integer = 42;
const my_json    = '{"foo": "Hello", "bar" :"World"}';
const my_object  = JSON.parse(my_json);
var my_undefined;

console.log(`my_string = ${my_string}`);
console.log(`my_list = ${my_list}`);
console.log(`my_boolean = ${my_boolean}`);
console.log(`my_integer = ${my_integer}`);
console.log(`my_json = ${my_json}`);
console.log(`my_object = ${my_object}`);
console.log(`my_undefined = ${my_undefined}`);

 

Be aware that var can be declared in an if statement and then used outside of the if statement, but const cannot.

if ("foo" === "foo") {
  const my_constant = "Hello";
  var my_variable = "World";
}

console.log(my_constant);
console.log(my_variable);

 

Something like this will be returned.

]$ node app.js
file:///usr/local/app.js:6
console.log(my_constant);
            ^

ReferenceError: my_constant is not defined
    at file:///usr/local/app.js:6:13
    at ModuleJob.run (node:internal/modules/esm/module_job:218:25)
    at async ModuleLoader.import (node:internal/modules/esm/loader:329:24)
    at async loadESM (node:internal/process/esm_loader:34:7)
    at async handleMainPromise (node:internal/modules/run_main:113:12)

Node.js v20.10.0

 




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