JavaScript scope in a try block

Question

Say I\'m trying to execute this JavaScript snippet. Assume the undeclared vars and methods are declared elsewhere, above, and that something and something

Answer 1

Due to javascript "hoisting" (google it), your variable declaration code gets translated as:

function yourFunction() {
  var magicVar;
  try {
      if(something) {
          magicVar = -1;
      }

      if(somethingElse) {
          magicFunction(magicVar);
      }
  } catch(e) {
      doSomethingWithError(e);
  }

} //end of your function

"Hoisting" moves all variables declarations to the top of the function. So magicVar is available everywhere in the function, but it's undefined until you give it a value.

Your variable has function scope.