What is a Variable?
A variable is like a storage box for information in JavaScript. You
use it to store values (like text, numbers, etc.) and reuse them later
in your code.
Example:
var name = "Mark";
Here, var is a keyword that tells JavaScript, "I'm creating a new
variable."
name is the variable's name (you can choose any name).
"Mark" is the value stored in the variable.
The equal sign = assigns the value to the variable.
So, now name means "Mark" in JavaScript. Whenever you use name,
JavaScript understands that it refers to "Mark".
Why Use Variables?
Instead of writing "Mark" every time, you can just write name. This
makes coding easier and more flexible.
Example:
alert(name); // This will show a pop-up with "Mark"
Even though we wrote name, JavaScript knows it means "Mark", so it
displays "Mark" in the alert.
Variables Can Change
A variable does not have to keep the same value forever. You
can change it later.
Example:
var name = "Mark";
name = "Ace";
alert(name); // Now it shows "Ace" instead of "Mark"
At first, name was "Mark".
Then, we changed it to "Ace".
JavaScript remembers only the latest value ("Ace").
👉 Important: We didn’t write var again when updating name. This is
because we already declared it earlier.
Creating a Variable Without a Value
You can create a variable first and assign a value later.
Example:
var nationality; // The variable is created but empty
nationality = "U.S."; // Now it has a value
This is useful if you don’t know the value at first but will add it later.
JavaScript Doesn’t Care About Variable Names
You can name a variable anything (as long as it follows the rules).
var floogle = "Mark";
var x = "Mark";
var lessonAuthor = "Mark";
var guyWhoKeepsSayingHisOwnName = "Mark";
👉 JavaScript does not care what you name your variables, but
you should choose meaningful names so your code is easy to
understand.
Good variable names:
✅ firstName, age, city
Bad variable names:
❌ x, y, thing, data
Text Strings vs. Variables
A text string (words inside " " or ' ') always needs quotation marks.
A variable never uses quotation marks.
Example:
var nickname = "Bub"; // Correct (nickname is a variable, "Bub" is a string)
alert(nickname); // Shows Bub
If you write alert("nickname");, it will display "nickname" instead of "Bub".
Using Variables in Alerts
Instead of writing this:
alert("Thanks for your input!");
You can store the message in a variable:
var thanx = "Thanks for your input!";
alert(thanx);
👉 Both versions show the same message!
This is useful when you want to change the message later without
editing multiple places in your code.
Final Summary
A variable stores a value (like a name, number, or message).
Use var to declare a variable, and = to assign a value.
Variables can change (you don’t need to use var again when changing
them).
Variable names should be meaningful for easy understanding.
Text strings need quotes (" "), but variables don’t.
Using variables saves time and makes code cleaner.
