What is type coercion in JavaScript?

Type coercion in JavaScript refers to the automatic conversion of values from one data type to another. This occurs when the JavaScript engine encounters an operation involving different types, such as when performing arithmetic or concatenation with varying data types. JavaScript attempts to convert the types in a way that makes the operation valid, which often leads to unexpected results if the developer is not aware of how coercion works.

For example, when adding a number and a string, the number is coerced into a string, and the result is string concatenation rather than arithmetic addition. This automatic handling enables more flexible code, as it allows developers to mix types without needing to manually convert them. Understanding type coercion is essential for effectively working with JavaScript, as it can significantly influence the behavior of your code.