var statement

var variableName [= value1][...,variableNameN[=valueN]]

Used to declare local variables. If you declare variables inside a function, the variables are local. They are defined for the function and expire at the end of the function call. More specifically, a variable defined using var is local to the code block containing it. Code blocks are demarcated by curly braces ({}).

If you declare variables outside a function, the variables are available througout the timeline containing the statement.

You cannot declare a variable scoped to another object as a local variable.

my_array.length = 25; // ok 
var my_array.length = 25; // syntax error

When you use var, you can strictly type the variable.

You can declare multiple variables in one statement, separating the declarations with commas (although this syntax may reduce clarity in your code):

var first:String = "Bart", middle:String = "J.", last:String = "Bartleby";

Note: You must also use var when declaring properties inside class definitions in external scripts. Class files also support public, private, and static variable scopes.

Availability: ActionScript 1.0; Flash Player 5

Parameters

variableName:String - An identifier.

Example

The following ActionScript creates a new array of product names. Array.push adds an element onto the end of the array. If you want to use strict typing, it is essential that you use the var keyword. Without var before product_array, you get errors when you try to use strict typing.

var product_array:Array = new Array("MX 2004", "Studio", "Dreamweaver", "Flash", "ColdFusion", "Contribute", "Breeze"); 
product_array.push("Flex"); 
trace(product_array); 
// output: MX 2004,Studio,Dreamweaver,Flash,ColdFusion,Contribute,Breeze,Flex

Flash CS3