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JavaScript JavaScript Basics (Retired) Storing and Tracking Information with Variables Naming Variables

Posted by Michael Godard
Michael Godard
5,399 Points

Does the first letter of a variable name have to be lowercase?

Why do programmers use camelcase as opposed to title case? Can you not capitalize the first letter of a variable name?

4 Answers

Cena Mayo
Cena Mayo
55,236 Points

Hi Michael,

It depends on the language. In JavaScript, you can technically use capitalized variable names, but the convention is to use lowercase words for variable names, and capitalized words for constructors.

In other languages, such as Ruby, capitalized labels are disallowed for variable names, as they're used by constants, methods, and classes.

Luke Pettway
Luke Pettway
16,591 Points

Beat me to it!

Luke Pettway
Luke Pettway
16,591 Points
Luke Pettway
Luke Pettway
16,591 Points

No and yes. It helps with clarity and in some programming languages it is even required to follow that convention. In Javascript specifically class constructors are always instantiated with a capital letter at the beginning of their name. It would get confusing really quickly if you started variables, classes, and anything else like that.

Piyush Patel
Piyush Patel
17,253 Points
Piyush Patel
Piyush Patel
17,253 Points

No, it is not a rigid rule. However, in Javascript, most programmers use camel-case notation, meaning you'll use the first word in lowercase and the other words in capitalized format. like "var nameOfPerson"