JavaScript Reserved Keywords

JavaScript statements begin with a "reserved keyword" and perform a specific task. For example, the "var" keyword instructs the browser to create a variable. This article provides a list of the keywords used in JavaScript. It is important to remember that a "variable" or "function" cannot use keywords. This is another interactive reference to use as you learn to write JavaScript statements.

Future reserved keywords

The following are reserved as future keywords by the ECMAScript specification. They have no special functionality at present, but they might at some future time, so they cannot be used as identifiers.  

These are always reserved:

  • enum

The following are only reserved when they are found in strict mode code or async function bodies::

  • implements
  • interface
  • let
  • package
  • private
  • protected
  • public
  • static
  • yield

The following are only reserved when they are found in module code:

  • await

The following are only reserved when they are found in strict mode:

  • let

Future reserved keywords in older standards

The following are reserved as future keywords by older ECMAScript specifications (ECMAScript 1 till 3).

  • abstract
  • boolean
  • byte
  • char
  • double
  • final
  • float
  • goto
  • int
  • long
  • native
  • short
  • synchronized
  • throws
  • transient
  • volatile

Additionally, the literals null, true, and false cannot be used as identifiers in ECMAScript.