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Block Scope & Shadowing in JS

What is a Block?

  • Block aka compound statement is used to group JS statements together into 1 group. We group them within {…}
{
var a = 10;
let b = 20;
const c = 30;
// Here let and const are hoisted in Block scope,
// While, var is hoisted in Global scope.
}
  • Block Scope and its accessibility example
{
var a = 10;
let b = 20;
const c = 30;
}
console.log(a); // 10
console.log(b); // Uncaught ReferenceError: b is not defined
* Reason?
* In the BLOCK SCOPE; we get b and c inside it initialized as *undefined* as a part of hoisting (in a seperate memory space called **block**)
* While, a is stored inside a GLOBAL scope.
* Thus we say, *let* and *const* are BLOCK SCOPED. They are stored in a separate mem space which is reserved for this block. Also, they can't be accessed outside this block. But var a can be accessed anywhere as it is in global scope. Thus, we can't access them outside the Block.
flowchart TB
subgraph Global["Global Scope"]
GlobalVar["var a = 100
(accessible everywhere)"]
end
subgraph Block["Block { ... }"]
BlockVar["var a = 10
(shadows global a -> overwrites it)"]
BlockLet["let b = 20
(block scoped - separate memory)"]
BlockConst["const c = 30
(block scoped - separate memory)"]
end
GlobalVar -.->|"Shadowed!"| BlockVar
style Global fill:#7c3aed,color:#fff
style Block fill:#1e293b,color:#fff
style GlobalVar fill:#4f46e5,color:#fff
style BlockVar fill:#dc2626,color:#fff
style BlockLet fill:#059669,color:#fff
style BlockConst fill:#059669,color:#fff
var a = 100;
{
var a = 10; // same name as global var
let b = 20;
const c = 30;
console.log(a); // 10
console.log(b); // 20
console.log(c); // 30
}
console.log(a); // 10, instead of the 100 we were expecting. So block "a" modified val of global "a" as well. In console, only b and c are in block space. a initially is in global space(a = 100), and when a = 10 line is run, a is not created in block space, but replaces 100 with 10 in global space itself.
  • So, If one has same named variable outside the block, the variable inside the block shadows the outside variable. This happens only for var

  • Let’s observe the behaviour in case of let and const and understand it’s reason.

let b = 100;
{
var a = 10;
let b = 20;
const c = 30;
console.log(b); // 20
}
console.log(b); // 100, Both b's are in separate spaces (one in Block(20) and one in Script(another arbitrary mem space)(100)). Same is also true for *const* declarations.

Block Scope Explaination

  • Same logic is true even for functions
const c = 100;
function x() {
const c = 10;
console.log(c); // 10
}
x();
console.log(c); // 100

What is Illegal Shadowing?

let a = 20;
{
var a = 20;
}
// Uncaught SyntaxError: Identifier 'a' has already been declared
  • We cannot shadow let with var. But it is valid to shadow a let using a let. However, we can shadow var with let.
  • All scope rules that work in function are same in arrow functions too.
  • Since var is function scoped, it is not a problem with the code below.
let a = 20;
function x() {
var a = 20;
}

Watch Live On Youtube below:

Block Scope & Shadowing in JS Youtube Link