What is lexical scoping in JavaScript?

What is lexical scoping in JavaScript?

Lexical scoping means that a function's scope is determined by its location in the source code. It allows nested functions to access variables from their parent scopes.

Can you give me an example of lexical scoping?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

function outerFunction() {
    let outerVariable = 'I am outside!';
    function innerFunction() {
        console.log(outerVariable);
    }
    innerFunction();
}
outerFunction();

In this case, innerFunction can access outerVariable because of lexical scoping.

What happens if I try to access a variable from a different scope?

If you try to access a variable from a different scope that is not in the parent chain, you'll get a reference error. For example, if innerFunction tried to access a variable defined only in another function, it wouldn't work.

Is lexical scoping the same as dynamic scoping?

No, lexical scoping is different from dynamic scoping. Lexical scoping is based on the physical structure of the code, while dynamic scoping is based on the call stack at runtime.