JavaScript Let
The let keyword was introduced in
ES6 (2015)
Variables defined with let cannot be Redeclared
Variables defined with let must be Declared before use
Variables defined with let have Block Scope
Cannot be Redeclared
Variables defined with let can not be redeclared.
You can not accidentally redeclare a variable declared with let.
With let you can not do this:
let x = "John Doe";
let x = 0;
With var you can:
var x = "John Doe";
var x = 0;
Block Scope
Before ES6 (2015), JavaScript had Global Scope and Function Scope.
ES6 introduced two important new JavaScript keywords: let and const.
These two keywords provide Block Scope in JavaScript.
Variables declared inside a { } block cannot be accessed
from outside the block:
Example
{
let x = 2;
}
// x can NOT be used here
Variables declared with the var keyword can NOT have block scope.
Variables declared inside a { } block can be accessed from
outside the block.
Example
{
var x = 2;
}
// x CAN be used here
Redeclaring Variables
Redeclaring a variable using the var keyword can impose problems.
Redeclaring a variable inside a block will also redeclare the variable
outside the block:
Example
var x = 10;
// Here x is 10
{
var x = 2;
// Here x is 2}
// Here x is 2
Try it Yourself »
Redeclaring a variable using the let keyword can solve this problem.
Redeclaring a variable inside a block will not redeclare the variable outside
the block:
Example
let x = 10;
// Here x is 10
{
let x = 2;
// Here x is 2}
// Here x is 10
Try it Yourself »
Difference Between var, let and const
ScopeRedeclareReassignHoistedBinds this
varNoYesYesYesYes
letYesNoYesNoNo
constYesNoNoNoNo
What is Good?
let and const
have block scope.
let and const
can not be redeclared.
let and const
must be declared before use.
let and const
does not bind to this.
let and const
are not hoisted.
What is Not Good?
var does not have to be declared.
var is hoisted.
var binds to this.
Browser Support
The let and const keywords are
not supported in Internet Explorer 11 or earlier.
The following table defines the first browser versions with full support:
Chrome 49
Edge 12
Firefox 36
Safari 11
Opera 36
Mar, 2016
Jul, 2015
Jan, 2015
Sep, 2017
Mar, 2016
Redeclaring
Redeclaring a JavaScript variable with var is allowed
anywhere in a program:
Example
var x = 2;
// Now x is 2
var x = 3;
// Now x is 3
Try it Yourself »
With let, redeclaring a variable in the same block is NOT allowed:
Example
var x = 2; // Allowed
let x = 3; // Not allowed
{
let x = 2; // Allowed
let x = 3; // Not allowed
}
{
let x = 2; // Allowed
var x = 3; // Not allowed
}
Redeclaring a variable with let, in another block, IS allowed:
Example
let x = 2; // Allowed{
let x = 3; // Allowed
}
{
let x = 4; // Allowed
}
Try it Yourself »
Let Hoisting
Variables defined with var are hoisted to the top
and can be initialized at any time.
Meaning: You can use the variable before it is declared:
Example
This is OK:
carName = "Volvo";
var carName;
Try it Yourself »
If you want to learn more about hoisting, study the chapter JavaScript Hoisting.
Variables defined with let are also hoisted to the top
of the block, but not initialized.
Meaning: Using a let variable before it is declared will result in a
ReferenceError:
Example
carName = "Saab";
let carName = "Volvo";
Try it Yourself »
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Reference: https://www.w3schools.com/js/js_let.asp