1. Introduction

In this tutorial, we’ll discuss another way of declaring block-scoped constants – const. A const is similar to let with respect to scope.

A const is block-scoped and can not be redeclared or reassigned a new value once declared or initialized.

When you use a const to hold an array or an object it means you are making to what it points to a constant. It means you can’t assign a new array or an object. However, you can still change the properties of the object or elements of an array.

const x = 1;

x = 2; //TypeError: Assignment to constant variable.
const x = 3; //SyntaxError: Identifier 'x' has already been declared

const does not mean the value it holds is immutable.

Whatever we know about Temporal Dead Zone (TDZ) with respect to let applies to const as well.

2. Convention to declare let

The convention is to use capital letters for constants.

const MESSAGE = 'hello world';

3. Scope of const

Constants are block-scoped. It means they can be accessed within the block they are declared as well as in the blocks contained in the block. If you redeclare the constant in the inner block, it doesn’t affect the constant in the outer block.

const x = 1;
{
  const x = 2;
  console.log("x inside block: " + x);
}
console.log("x outside block: " + x);

4. const doesn’t add to window object

Unlike var, global constants do not become properties of the window object.

const x = 5;
console.log(window.x); // undefined

5. const need to be initialized

Constants are need to be initialized. You’ll get error if you don’t do it.

const x; //SyntaxError: Missing initializer in const declaration

6. const hoisting

Constants declared with const are also hoisted but, unlike var, are not initialized with a default value. If you try to read a const before it is initialized, you’ll get an exception.

console.log(x); //ReferenceError: Cannot access 'x' before initialization
const x = 5;

7. Can’t have function with same name as constant in same scope

const test = 5;

function test() {} // SyntaxError: Identifier 'test' has already been declared

8. Using const with array

When you declare a const to hold an array, it means you are creating a read-only reference to the value. Value here is the array. You can change the elements of the array but you can’t assign a new array.

const arr = [1, 2];
const arr = [3, 4]; // SyntaxError: Identifier 'arr' has already been declared

arr[0] = 5; // OK

9. Using const with object

Similar to using const with an array, you can not assign a new object to a const but you can change the properties of the object. Using const with object will not make it immutable.

const PERSON = { name: “James” };
PERSON.name = “Sunny”; // OK

PERSON = {}; // TypeError: Assignment to constant variable.

10. Conclusion

In this tutorial, we discussed how to declare and use constants. Understanding of let, var and const is required for being a good JavaScript developer.