why eval('{a:23}') gives me 23 instead of {a:23}?

Question

I have this bit of javascript code in the browser

console.log( eval('{a:23}'));

and it prints 23

I was expecting instead to see

[Object]

can somebody explain ?

thanks

Answer 1

In that context, { starts a block, not an object literal.

a: is then a label.

That leaves 23.