What is lexical scoping in JavaScript?

What is lexical scoping in JavaScript?

Lexical scoping refers to the visibility of variables in nested functions. In JavaScript, a function's scope is determined by its location in the source code.

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 an outer scope in a different function?

If you try to access a variable from an outer scope in a different function that is not nested, it will result in a reference error, as that variable is not in the scope of the second function.

How does lexical scoping differ from dynamic scoping?

Lexical scoping is determined at compile time based on the physical structure of the code, while dynamic scoping is determined at runtime based on the call stack.