Declaring variables inside if statements.

Question

Hello! 
So I finally figured out this code challenge. My question is are you able to declare a variable inside of an if statement? This code challenge wanted me to type my if statement as follows:
javascript
if (this.isTurn) {
  console.log();
}

however this was not previously set as a variable.  I kept typing out this:
```javascript
if(player1.isTurn == true ) {
 console.log();
}  
```
Thank you!
``object.js
const player1 = {
    name: 'Ashley',
    color: 'purple',
    isTurn: true,
    play: function(){
        // write code here.
      if (this.isTurn) {
        console.log(${this['name']} is now playing!);
      } else {
        console.log(Not yet`);
      }
}
}
```

Alexander Einerskog · Accepted Answer

Hello Daniel!
What they're doing is using the 'this' keyword to refer to the player1 object. Basically when you use 'this' inside of the player1 object, the computer interprets it as you writing 'player1', so 'this.isTurn' becomes functionally the same as 'player1.isTurn'.
The 'this' keyword can therefore be used to simplify code within objects by not needing to know that the object itself is called player1, but many find it confusing which is why some people opt to not use it.

Himanshu Anand · Answer

const player1 = {
    name: 'Ashley',
    color: 'purple',
    isTurn: true,
    play: function(){
        // write code here.
      if(this.isTurn===true)
      {
         console.log(${this['name']} is now playing!);
      }
    }
}
//can you suggest what we are doing wrong

Daniel Spykstra · Answer

Thank you Alexander! This makes way more sense now.

Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Looking to learn something new?

Daniel Spykstra

Daniel Spykstra

Declaring variables inside if statements.

3 Answers

Alexander Einerskog

Alexander Einerskog

Daniel Spykstra

Daniel Spykstra

Himanshu Anand

Himanshu Anand