[removed] is this a conditional assignment?

Question

From the google analytics tracking code:

var _gaq = _gaq || [];

how does this work?

Is it a conditional variable value assignment? Is i

Answer 1

It's the same as saying:

if( !(_gaq) ) {var _gaq = [];}

(This can be done since the var is hoisted above the conditional check, thereby avoiding a 'not defined' error, and it will also cause _gaq to be automatically treated as local in scope.)