JavaScript employs data types to characterize the kind of data that variables can handle. These include number, string, boolean, null, undefined.
JavaScript1let someNumber = 5; // a number 2let someString = "Hi"; // a string 3let someBool = true; // a boolean
The type of a JavaScript variable is dynamically determined by its value, allowing the type to change in accordance with its value.
JavaScript1let variable = "string"; // a string 2variable = 5; // now a number!
JavaScript has special types: 'undefined' and 'null'. Each has only one value. 'undefined' means that a variable has been declared but does not yet have a value. 'null' implies the absence of a value. Note that we will use a special console.log method, which outputs the result in the console.
JavaScript1let testVar; // declared but not assigned 2console.log(testVar); // Output: undefined 3testVar = null; // assigned 'null' 4console.log(testVar); // Output: null
In JavaScript, 'undefined' is a type, while 'null' is an assignment value used to denote no value. You can think of 'undefined' as a bucket, into which we have forgotten to put anything, and 'null' as a bucket into which we've intentionally placed a note that says "nothing".
Statements are instructions that JavaScript executes. Statements can declare variables, assign values, perform computations, or make decisions based on certain conditions. JavaScript executes statements in the order they appear. Also, notice how we use ; symbol at the end of each statement? In JavaScript, a semicolon (;) is like a stop sign for your code – it tells the computer where one piece of code ends and another begins. While JavaScript often understands your code without semicolons, it's good practice to use them. This helps avoid confusion and errors in your programs.
JavaScript1let x = 5; // Declares variable x and assigns it a value of 5 2let y = 6; // Declares variable y and assigns it a value of 6 3let z = x + y; // Computes the sum of x and y and assigns it to z. We can also use subtraction: x - y, multiplication: x * y, and division: x / y 4console.log(z); // Outputs the value of z, which is 11 5 6x++; // Increments the value of x by 1 using the ++ operator. x is now 6 7y--; // Decrement the value of y by 1. y is now 5 8 9x -= 3; // Decrement the value of x by 3 using -= operator. x is now 3 10y += 2; // Increments the value of y by 2 using the += operator. y is now 7 11 12x *= 4; // Multiply the value of x by 4 using *= operator. x is now 12 13x /= 3; // Divide the value of x to 3 using /= operator. x is now 4
In real-world scenarios, consider statements as analogous to a cooking recipe — each step is executed in the given order, ultimately creating a dish (or, in this case, a program).
Strings, used to represent textual data, are subject to several operations in JavaScript:
JavaScript1let introduction = "Let's talk about "; 2let title = 'Galaxy'; 3let message = introduction + title; // a statement that concatenates two strings 4console.log(message); // this will output "Let's talk about Galaxy" 5 6let author = 'Galacticus'; 7let completeTitle = `Title: ${title} by ${author}`; // another way of inserting a variable into a string 8console.log(completeTitle); // this will output "Title: Galaxy by Galacticus"
These operations enable us to manipulate textual data in JavaScript, providing various ways to interact with and modify string data.
Great work! You now have a solid understanding of JavaScript Data Types, including 'undefined' and 'null', and you have explored how JavaScript executes statements to manipulate these data types. Continue practicing these concepts; they will provide a strong foundation for understanding more challenging JavaScript topics later.
Are you ready to reinforce this knowledge through some practice exercises? They're coming up next. You'll apply different data types, assign 'null' and 'undefined' to variables, and craft your own JavaScript statements. Remember, the best way to learn programming is by doing, so make sure to dive headfirst into these exercises! Let's press on!