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Javascript Tutor - Lesson 2

Variables.

What's a variable? Let's suppose x=5.

x is a variable. The statement x=5 declares that the value of x is now 5. Can x be something else? Sure, x=6. Now x equals 6. (Hence the name "variable"... it's value can vary.)

Can a variable be something other than a number? Sure. How about x="Joe". Now x equals the string "Joe". (A string by the way is a string of characters... and strings are always enclosed in quotes.)

Can the name of a variable be something other than a letter like x? Sure, myname="Joe". Simple.

How can we incorporate this new found knowledge into our function? Easy...

<html>
<head>
<title></title>

<script type="text/javascript">

function HelloWorld()
{
   myname = "Joe";
   alert(myname);
}

</script>

</head>
<body>

<a href="javascript:HelloWorld()">Hello</a>

</body>
</html>

Try it.

(Note again that strings are always enclosed in quotes, but variables are not.)

What we have called is the alert method. Think of a method as a command. Javascript has many methods.

We could make it say Hello + variable...

<html>
<head>
<title></title>

<script type="text/javascript">

function HelloWorld()
{
   myname = "Joe";
   alert("Hello " + myname);
}

</script>

</head>
<body>

<a href="javascript:HelloWorld()">Hello</a>

</body>
</html>

Try it.

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