Variables

Programming basics

The official definition: in computer programming, a variable is a storage location paired with an associated symbolic name (an identifier) which contains a value.

In other words, a variable is a storage location for data. Variables have names. Some computer language mandate you assign a data type to variables. When asked for the "official definition" (or best definition) please use the definition stated above.

Variable in Python

name = "Mr. MacKenty"
position  = "Teacher"

# in the example above, we have a variable with the name "name" and the '''value''' of that variable is a string, "Mr. MacKenty"
# there is also a variable named "position" and the value of that variable is "Teacher". In memory, a section of memory has been reserved for a variable with the name "name" and "position".  

# variables can change. For example, if we wanted to change the variable position, we could simply: 

position = "New Teacher"

# now the value of "position" is "New Teacher".

Standards

• Define the terms: variable, constant, operator, object.

Give the precise meaning of a word, phrase, concept or physical quantity.