Primitive Types & Reference Types in JavaScript

primitive-reference-types-javascript.md

Primitive Types & Reference Types in JavaScript

An explanation of JavaScript's pass-by-value, which is unlike pass-by-reference from other languages.

Facts

• JavaScript has 2 kinds of variable types: primitive and reference.
• A fixed amount of memory is reserved after creation of every variable.
• When a variable is copied, it's in-memory value is copied.
• Passing a variable to a function via a call also creates a copy of that variable.

Primitive Types

The in-memory value of a primitive type is it's actual value (e.g. boolean true, number 42). A primitive type can be stored in the fixed amount of memory available.

• null
• undefined
• Boolean
• Number
• String

Primitive types are also known as: scalar types or simple types.

Reference Types

A reference type can contain other values. Since the contents of a reference type can not fit in the fixed amount of memory available for a variable, the in-memory value of a reference type is the reference itself (a memory address).

• Array
• Object
• Function

Reference types are also known as: complex types or container types.

Code Examples

Copying a primitive:

var a = 13         // assign `13` to `a`
var b = a          // copy the value of `a` to `b`
b = 37             // assign `37` to `b`
console.log(a)     // => 13

The original was not changed, we can only change the copy.

Copying a reference:

var a = { c: 13 }  // assign the reference of a new object to `a`
var b = a          // copy the reference of the object inside `a` to new variable `b`
b.c = 37           // modify the contents of the object `b` refers to
console.log(a)     // => { c: 37 }

The original was also changed, since the reference got copied.

Very helpful! Thanks 👍

✌Excellent explanation

Great explanation, thank you.
Wish I knew this before I spent a few hours trying to figure out why my object changes when I change its copy.

Thanks , simple and clear explanation .

wonderful article it is....thanks dude

very clear, thanks!

Concise, thanks!

Clear to understand, Thanks!

Thank you

Thanks!

null is technically an object, try: typeof null
Arrays are also of type object.

What about Symbols?

Thank you, I was having trouble understanding this concept and this explanation really helped.

I always have to refresh on what the types are and how they work and this was clear and easy to understand. Thank you.

Great explanation.Thank you 👍👏

Thank, It was so clear 👍

VERY HELPFUL, THANK YOU...

That's a good explanation! Thank you!

GOod Explanation!! ;)

That's so resourceful, thank you very much!

thanks

Great content 😊👍

👍

👍