9

When I run "var variable = true;" in chrome console I get "undefined" returned:

> var variable = true;
undefined

But when I run without "var" it returns true:

> variable = true;
true

Why is it returning "undefined" with "var"?

It's confusing cause I expected it would return true.

never_had_a_name
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5 Answers5

6

The first is a statement, while the second is an expression. While not quite the same, it is similar to C's rules:

// A statement that has no value.
int x = 5;

// An expression...
x = 10;

// ...that can be passed around.
printf("%d\n", x = 15);
Marcelo Cantos
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4

var x = y; is a statement which returns no value. In the WebKit JS console, a statement that returns no value will show undefined as the result, e.g.

> if(1){}
undefined
> ;
undefined
> if(1){4}  // this statement returns values!
4

The assignment is an expression which returns the value of the LHS. That means, this expression statement has a return value, and this will be shown.

kennytm
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1

An assignation returns the assignation's value, but with var this return is "consumed" (?)

MatTheCat
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1

Statements always return undefined.

var color = "red"; 
undefined

Expressions always return a value. 

color = "orange";
"orange"
Ankit Sinha
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0

I'd like to point out, that the answer provided by kennytm should be the accepted answer, at least for pedagogical purposes. The accepted answer doesn't answer why this is the case or provide deeper understanding.

Like the null value in JavaScript, undefined indicates absence of value, but in a much deeper way. The following should be taken as complimentary to the above-mentioned answers:

undefined is the value of variables that haven't been initialized and the value you get when you query the value of an object property or array element that doesn't exist. This value is also returned by functions that have no return value, and the value of function parameters for which no argument is supplied. undefined is a predefined global variable (not a language keyword like null) that is initialized to the undefined value.

You might consider undefined to represent a system-level, unexpected, or error-like absence of value and null to represent program-level, normal, or expected absence of value.

-- Flanagan, David. JavaScript: The Definitive Guide: Activate Your Web Pages (Definitive Guides) . O'Reilly Media. Kindle Edition.

Also, makes sure to check out both the accepted and the second most voted answer for further reference: Chrome/Firefox console.log always appends a line saying undefined

adriaanbd
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