As far as I know variables declared inside a function are local variables (using var keyword or not). If so then why does this output 5? Shouldn't I get a ReferenceError when calling func2 because x is only known to func1?

<script>
    function func1(){
       x = 5;
    }

    function func2(){
       document.write(x);
    }

    func1();
    func2();
</script>

As far as I know variables declared inside a function are local variables (using var keyword or not). If so then why does this output 5? Shouldn't I get a ReferenceError when calling func2 because x is only known to func1?

<script>
    function func1(){
       x = 5;
    }

    function func2(){
       document.write(x);
    }

    func1();
    func2();
</script>

• javascript
• function
• variables
• global
• local

• 1 "variables declared inside a function", which you didnt do as you did not use let or var – Patrick Evans Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 19:39
• Variables are local when declared with val. Otherwise they're global. – Iván Nokonoko Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 19:40
• Read up on JavaScript Scope. – Dust_In_The_Wind Commented Jan 18, 2017 at 19:42

4 Answers 4

Afaik, variables declared inside a function are local variables (using var keyword or not).

Variables declared inside a function are local, but you are not declaring any variables. What you have is what's known as an "implicit global" and it only works in "sloppy mode".

From MDN:

Assigning a value to an undeclared variable implicitly creates it as a global variable (it bees a property of the global object) when the assignment is executed.

In strict mode, your code produces an error:

"use strict";

function func1() {
  x = 5;
}

function func2() {
  document.write(x);
}

func1();
func2();

It is because you did not define it as

function func1(){
   var x = 5;
}

This means that JS will use the global variable x which does not exist, but will when you run func1.

The addition of the "var" defines the variable within the local scope of func1.

function func1(){
   x = 5;
}

is equivalent to

var x; // In global scope
function func1(){
   x = 5;
}

As the variable was not scoped to func1 with a declaration.

If this was the case, then you would e across an error in the console since you are trying to access a variable that is not defined yet.

function func1(){
   var x = 5;
}

"use strict";

function func1() {
  window.x = 5;
}

function func2() {
  document.write(x);
}

func1();
func2();