freeCodeCamp/guide/english/javascript/global-object/index.md

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---
title: Global Object
---
The global object is an object that is initialized by the JavaScript interpreter before the code is executed. All variables that are declared on the global scope (see: <a href='http://forum.freecodecamp.com/t/scopes-in-javascript/14696' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Scopes</a>) are stored in the global object as properties.
In a Node.js environment, the global object can be accessed by the `global` keyword, while in a browser window it can be accessed by the `window` keyword. The `this` keyword also refers to the global object when used in the global scope. Please note that using `this` in the global scope will return `undefined` if `strict mode` is enabled.
For example:
```javascript
// global scope
var foo = "bar";
console.log(global.foo); // bar (in a Node environment)
console.log(window.foo); // bar (in a browser window)
console.log(this.foo); // bar (if strict mode is disabled)
```
The distinction between scopes local to functions and the global scope is important here: the global object only contains the variables that were declared on the global scope, not the local scopes of functions.
The global object also contains the properties `NaN`, `undefined` and `Infinity` and the following functions:
1. `decodeURI()`
2. `decodeURIComponent()`
3. `encodeURI()`
4. `encodeURIComponent()`
5. `escape()`
6. `eval()`
7. `GetObject()`
8. `isFinite()`
9. `isNaN()`
10. `parseFloat()`
11. `parseInt()`
12. `ScriptEngine()`
13. `ScriptEngineBuildVersion()`
14. `ScriptEngineMajorVersion()`
15. `ScriptEngineMinorVersion()`
16. `unescape()`
# References
1. MSDN: <a href='https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/52f50e9t' target='_blank' rel='nofollow'>Global Object (Javascript)</a>