Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

JavaScript JavaScript Basics (Retired) Creating Reusable Code with Functions Review: Scope

Posted by Gena Israel
Gena Israel
2,047 Points

i dont understand why the answer is trish

Given the code below, what appears in the alert dialogue when this program runs?

var name = "Trish"; function setName() { var name = "Sarah"; } setName(); alert(name);

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,007 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,007 Points

This question tests your knowledge of "function scope".

According to the rules of function scope, any variable declared within a function is only available to that function. So when the function setName() is invoked, a new variable called "name" is created inside the function and set to "Sarah", but when the function ends, that variable can no longer be accessed by the main program.

But the original global variable "name" can be accessed and still contains the value "Trish".