why this code doesn't run?

Question

(function () {
    "use strict";


    function initialize() {
        myList = ['one', 'two', 'three'];
    }

    function displayList() {
        var i, n;
        for (i = 0, n = myList.length; i < n; i += 1) {
            alert(myList[i]);
        }
    }
    initialize();
    displayList();

})();

if not using var, the myList variable will supposedly be created as a globle variable. Either way, the code should be running. What is wrong with the code??

see here http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9397778/how-to-declare-global-variables-when-using-the-strict-mode-pragma — Luca Rainone, Nov 21 '13 at 08:29
I run this code in jsfiddle; I dont get any error message... — Joshua, Nov 21 '13 at 08:30
Because [you get an error message](http://jsbin.com/UsuKUgas/1/edit?js,console): *ReferenceError: assignment to undeclared variable myList (line 15)* — Álvaro González, Nov 21 '13 at 08:31

MD Sayem Ahmed · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-18T07:18:02.857

myList = ['one', 'two', 'three'];

In strict mode, you are not allowed to create global variables in this way.

From official Mozilla documentation -

First, strict mode makes it impossible to accidentally create global variables. In normal JavaScript mistyping a variable in an assignment creates a new property on the global object and continues to "work" (although future failure is possible: likely, in modern JavaScript). Assignments which would accidentally create global variables instead throw in strict mode:

"use strict";

mistypedVaraible = 17; // throws a ReferenceError

This works -

(function () {
    "use strict";

    var myList;

    function initialize() {
        myList = ['one', 'two', 'three'];
    }

    function displayList() {
        var i, n;
        for (i = 0, n = myList.length; i < n; i += 1) {
            alert(myList[i]);
        }
    }

    initialize();
    displayList();
})();

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 21 '13 at 08:29

You cannot set global variables like that when in strict mode.

You'll have to do

(function () {
    "use strict";

    var myList;

    function initialize() {
        myList = ['one', 'two', 'three'];
    }

    function displayList() {
        var i, n;
        for (i = 0, n = myList.length; i < n; i += 1) {
            alert(myList[i]);
        }
    }
    initialize();
    displayList();

})();

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 21 '13 at 08:30

By using "use strict" you're limiting yourself to strict mode (which is a good thing), but that means you can't just use a variable that hasn't been set yet.

If you want to define myList as a global variable, you'll have to do that before the function starts, so at the top of the script put: var myList;

why this code doesn't run?

3 Answers3