JavaScript ReferenceError - variable is not defined Last Updated : 15 Jul, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes Like Article Like Report This JavaScript exception variable is not defined and occurs if there is a non-existent variable that is referenced somewhere. Message: ReferenceError: "x" is not defined Error Type: ReferenceError Cause of Error: There is a non-existent variable that is referenced somewhere in the script. That variable has to be declared or make sure the variable is available in the current script or scope. Example 1: In this example, the variable(val1) is being accessed from the outside of the function, So the error has not occurred. JavaScript function sum() { let val1 = 2; let val2 = 3; return val1 + val2; } console.log(val1); Output: ReferenceError: 'val1' is not defined Example 2: In this example, the variable(GFG) is not defined, So the error has occurred. JavaScript GFG.substring(2); Output: ReferenceError: 'GFG' is not defined Comment P PranchalKatiyar Follow Improve P PranchalKatiyar Follow Improve Article Tags : JavaScript Web Technologies JavaScript-Errors Explore JavaScript BasicsIntroduction to JavaScript4 min readVariables and Datatypes in JavaScript6 min readJavaScript Operators5 min readControl Statements in JavaScript4 min readArray & StringJavaScript Arrays7 min readJavaScript Array Methods7 min readJavaScript Strings5 min readJavaScript String Methods9 min readFunction & ObjectFunctions in JavaScript5 min readJavaScript Function Expression3 min readFunction Overloading in JavaScript4 min readObjects in JavaScript4 min readJavaScript Object Constructors4 min readOOPObject Oriented Programming in JavaScript3 min readClasses and Objects in JavaScript4 min readWhat Are Access Modifiers In JavaScript ?5 min readJavaScript Constructor Method7 min readAsynchronous JavaScriptAsynchronous JavaScript2 min readJavaScript Callbacks4 min readJavaScript Promise4 min readEvent Loop in JavaScript4 min readAsync and Await in JavaScript2 min readException HandlingJavascript Error and Exceptional Handling6 min readJavaScript Errors Throw and Try to Catch2 min readHow to create custom errors in JavaScript ?2 min readJavaScript TypeError - Invalid Array.prototype.sort argument1 min readDOMHTML DOM (Document Object Model)9 min readHow to select DOM Elements in JavaScript ?3 min readJavaScript Custom Events4 min readJavaScript addEventListener() with Examples9 min readAdvanced TopicsClosure in JavaScript4 min readJavaScript Hoisting6 min readScope of Variables in JavaScript3 min readJavaScript Higher Order Functions7 min readDebugging in JavaScript4 min read Like