What is hoisting in JavaScript?

Hoisting is a JavaScript mechanism where variables and function declarations are moved to the top of their containing scope during the compilation phase. However, only the declarations are hoisted, not the initializations. This means that variables and functions can be used before they are declared in the code. Understanding hoisting is crucial for writing predictable JavaScript code.

Here's how hoisting works for variables and functions:

1. Variable Hoisting:
2. Function Hoisting:

Understanding hoisting is important for JavaScript developers to avoid unexpected behavior and write more predictable code. It's recommended to declare variables at the top of their scope and define functions before they are called to leverage hoisting effectively.