What is Undefined?
In computer programming, undefined refers to a variable or property that has not been assigned a value. It is often used to indicate that the value is unknown or has not yet been determined.
In JavaScript, the undefined value is a primitive value that represents the absence of a value. It is one of the two falsy values in JavaScript, along with null. This means that when undefined is used in a boolean context, it will evaluate to false.
How to Check if a Variable is Undefined
There are two ways to check if a variable is undefined in JavaScript:
- Using the
typeof
operator - Using the
===
operator
The typeof
operator returns the type of a variable. If the variable is undefined, typeof
will return “undefined”.
const myVariable = undefined;
console.log(typeof myVariable); // "undefined"
The ===
operator checks for strict equality. If the variable is undefined, ===
will return true if the other operand is also undefined.
const myVariable = undefined;
console.log(myVariable === undefined); // true
When is Undefined Used?
Undefined is often used in the following situations:
- To indicate that a variable has not yet been assigned a value
- To indicate that a property does not exist on an object
- To represent the return value of a function that does not return anything
Conclusion
Undefined is a useful value in JavaScript that can be used to represent the absence of a value. It is important to understand how to check if a variable is undefined and how to use it correctly in your code.