Message
SyntaxError: missing = in const declaration (Firefox) SyntaxError: Missing initializer in const declaration (Chrome)
Error type
What went wrong?
A constant is a value that cannot be altered by the program during normal execution. It cannot change through re-assignment, and it can't be redeclared. In JavaScript, constants are declared using the const keyword. An initializer for a constant is required; that is, you must specify its value in the same statement in which it's declared (which makes sense, given that it can't be changed later).
Examples
Missing const initializer
Unlike var or let, you must specify a value for a const declaration. This throws:
const COLUMNS; // SyntaxError: missing = in const declaration
Fixing the error
There are multiple options to fix this error. Check what was intended to be achieved with the constant in question.
Adding a constant value
Specify the constant value in the same statement in which it's declared:
const COLUMNS = 80;
const, let or var?
Do not use const if you weren't meaning to declare a constant. Maybe you meant to declare a block-scoped variable with let or global variable with var. Both don't require an initial value.
let columns;