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

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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

Try it Yourself »

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;

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

Example

This code will not run.

carName = "Volvo";
const carName;

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Read more about let and const in JS Let / Const.

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

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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

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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

Try it Yourself »

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.

JavaScript in strict mode does not allow variables to be used if they are not declared.
Study "use strict" in the next chapter.

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