What is const?
The const keyword was introduced in ES6 (2015), which is used to define a new variable in JavaScript. Variables that are defined with the const keyword cannot be redeclared or reassigned. These variables have a block scope {...}.
Generally, we use the const keyword to declare variables when we don't want to change the value of that variable throughout the program. However, if the constant or const variable is an array or object then its items or properties can be updated or removed.
Syntax
const name = value;
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Parameters
name
This is the name of the constant variable, which can be any legal identifier
value
This is the value of the constant variable, which can be any legal expression
Cannot be Reassigned
Variables that are defined with the const keyword cannot be reassigned a new value, else it will throw an error,
const PI = 3.14;
PI = 22; // this line will through an error
PI = PI + 5; // this line will through an error
// this is the error
TypeError: Assignment to constant variable.
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Must be Assigned
Variables that define with the const keyword must be assigned a value during declaration, otherwise, it will throw an error,
const PI;
PI = 3.14;
// this will throw a Syntax Error
Uncaught SyntaxError: Missing initializer in const declaration
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Constant Arrays and Objects
The const keyword is a little confusing because when we define a variable with the const keyword it does not define a constant value rather it defines a constant reference (Pointer) to a value.
Due to this reason we cannot reassign a constant value, constant array, or constant object whereas we can change the elements or properties of constant arrays or objects.
Constant Arrays
So now we know that we can change the elements of the constant array,
// creating a constant array
const colors = ["Black", "Red", "Orange"];
// changing the second element of the array
colors[1] = "Blue"
// adding elements to the constant array
colors.push("Green");
// resulting array
["Black", "Blue", "Orange", "Green"];
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But we cannot reassign the constant array, because it will throw an error.
// creating a constant array
const colors = ["Black", "Red", "Orange"];
// this will throw a Type Error
colors = ["Red", "Blue", "Green"];
// this is the error
TypeError: Assignment to constant variable.
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Constant Objects
Just like constant arrays, we can also change the properties of the objects,
// creating a constant object
const colors = { r:"Red", g:"Green", b:"Brown" };
// changing the value of the third property
color.b = "Blue";
// adding a new property to a constant array
color.a = "Alpha";
// resulting constant object
colors = { r:"Red", g:"Green", b:"Blue", a:"Alpha" };
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But we cannot reassign the constant object, because it will throw an error.
// creating a constant object
const colors = { r:"Red", g:"Green", b:"Brown" };
// this will throw a Type Error
colors = { r:"Red", g:"Green", b:"Blue", a:"Alpha" };
// this is the error
TypeError: Assignment to constant variable.
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Block Scope
Just like the let keyword in JavaScript, variables that are declared with the const keyword have a block scope. This means variables that are declared between curly braces {...} are only accessible in between those curly braces.
const color = "Red";
// Here color is Red
{
const color = "Black";
// Here color is Black
}
// Here color is Red
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Const Hoisting
Variables defined with const are hoisted to the top, but not initialized.
Meaning: Using a const variable before it is declared will result in a ReferenceError:
// this is throw a ReferenceError: Cannot access 'color' before initialization
console.log(color);
const color= "Red";
Wrapping up!
That's all for this article, hope you learned something. Thanks for reading, catch you later.
You can also buy me a coffee that would help me grow as a frontend developer :)
