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What is the difference between `let` and `var` in terms of scope and hoisting?
Asked on Mar 14, 2026
Answer
In JavaScript, "let" and "var" are used to declare variables, but they differ in terms of scope and hoisting behavior. "let" is block-scoped, while "var" is function-scoped. Additionally, "let" does not hoist the same way as "var".
function testScope() {
if (true) {
var varVariable = "I am a var";
let letVariable = "I am a let";
}
console.log(varVariable); // Accessible here
console.log(letVariable); // ReferenceError: letVariable is not defined
}
testScope();Additional Comment:
✅ Answered with JavaScript best practices.- "var" is function-scoped, meaning it is accessible throughout the function in which it is declared.
- "let" is block-scoped, meaning it is only accessible within the block (e.g., inside an "if" statement) where it is declared.
- "var" variables are hoisted to the top of their function scope, meaning they are initialized with "undefined" before any code is executed.
- "let" variables are also hoisted but are not initialized, resulting in a "Temporal Dead Zone" until the variable's declaration is encountered in the code.
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