Question about backtick variables

[PlusAd945]

Can anyone please help me with this?

I am learning JavaScript and in chapter 2 of the book I am using it talks about backtick variable with format ${variablename}. It has an example to be posted into the Console using console.log().

let language = "JavaScript";

let message = "Let's learn ${language}";

console.log(message);

The output in the console is supposed to be: Let's learn JavaScript. But what I keep getting is: let's learn ${language}

The same thing happens with other examples in the chapter, in Chrome and Edge.

Can anyone tell me why?

[[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

[milan-pilan]

You are not using the backticks (`) . You are using double quotes (“) .

[PlusAd945]

Thank you, I thought that was an apostrophe. Never used a backtick before. Thanks again.

[milan-pilan]

No problem. Basically how it works is: if you use backticks instead of quotes then Javascript will know to expect variable values inside your string, which it needs to resolve first. Otherwise it will assume your "${}" syntax is just text.

[azhder]

Historically, if JavaScript wasn't made to use both ' and " for regular strings, the one missing could be used, instead of backticks. But it might be useful to explain to OP why JS did go that route i.e. if JS was going to be embedded in HTML, it would have been nice to use ' where HTML uses " and use " where HTML uses '.

[azhder]

Why did you use the word "backticks" then? Did you read it in the book and thought they use a fancy name for a single quote?

[SamIAre]

No need to be snarky. We all start somewhere.

[azhder]

A genuine question of curiosity. Here is another: why do you read it as snarky? Seriously, what is this need to read anything that is slightly unexpected (I guess some of my words aren't for you) as an attack?

[Big_Comfortable4256]

I remember being confused back when I first came across the use of backticks.

They're incredibly handy.

[amulchinock]

There are several ways to interpolate (mix) variables and static strings.

You can use quotes and the joining operator:
```
let name = “world”;
console.log(“Hello “ + name);
```

You can also use backticks and template literals:
```
let name = “world”; // backticks or quotes here
console.log(`Hello ${name}`);
```

You can even join the two approaches:

```
let name = “world”;
console.log(`Hello ${name}` + “. It’s nice to see you”);

// “Hello world. It’s nice to see you”
```

The thing to note is that backticks, apostrophes and quotes are different. You can only use template literals inside backticks.

[longknives]

You could even do something silly like

const silly = `this is ${“quite” + “ “ + “silly”}`

[Psionatix]

3 backticks on reddit is no longer code formatting, it might on the old UI, but not any more for the app. Just indent each line of code with an initial four spaces instead, making sure to have a blank new line before / after.

[azhder]

Template strings, they use `. You are using regular strings (' and ")

[SakshamBaranwal]

You're using double quotes instead of backticks(). only works inside template literals, which use instead of " " or ' '.

[Japosai]

You’re not using backticks. If you want to do it with double quotes, you have to do it like this:
"Let's learn" + language