All variables declared in a function are defined throughout the function

var scope = "global";
function f( ) {
    alert(scope);         // Displays "undefined", not "global"
    var scope = "local";  // Variable initialized here, but defined everywhere
    alert(scope);         // Displays "local"
}
f( );

So previous function equal the following one:

function f( ) {
    var scope;       // Local variable is declared at the start of the function
    alert(scope);    // It exists here, but still has "undefined" value
    scope = "local"; // Now we initialize it and give it a value
    alert(scope);    // And here it has a value
}

This example illustrates why it is good programming practice to place all your variable declarations together at the start of any function.