Scope

The scope of a name is the region of source code in which the name can be used.

Related concepts:  NameLifetime

Closest Wikipedia entry:  Scope (computer science) — In computer programming, the scope of a name binding—an association of a name to an entity, such as a variable—is the part of a program where the name binding is valid, that is where the name can be used to refer to the entity. In other parts of the program the name may refer to a different entity (it may have a different binding), or to nothing at all (it may be unbound). The scope of a name binding is also known as the visibility of an entity, particularly in older or more technical literature—this is from the perspective of the referenced entity, not the referencing name.

Misconceptions about Scope

8 documented Misconceptions

ControlledLocalAccess — Java

One can control access to local variables using access modifiers

ForVariableScopeBeyondLoop — Java

The scope of variables declared in a for loop header extends beyond the loop

FunctionsCannotBeImmediatelyInvoked — JavaScript

Functions cannot be called in the expression in which they are defined

FunctionsMustBeNamed — JavaScript

Every function definition requires an associated name

LoopBodyScopeImpliesLoopLifetime — Java

Lifetime of variables declared in a loop body extends across all loop iterations

NoGlobalObject — JavaScript

There isn't a global object

OnlyRuntimeLibraryPackages — Java

Only the creators of the JDK can create packages

UnqualifiedNamesMustDiffer — Java

The unqualified names of different classes must be different