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Variable Assignment

What is a Variable?

Python variables are the reserved memory locations used to store values with in a Python Program. This means that when you create a variable you reserve some space in the memory. Based on the data type of a variable, Python interpreter allocates memory and decides what can be stored in the reserved memory. Therefore, by assigning different data types to Python variables, you can store integers, decimals or characters in these variables.

Declaring Variables in Python

In Python, variables do not need explicit declaration to reserve memory space. The declaration happens automatically when you assign a value to a variable. The equal sign (=) is used to assign values to variables.

Example:

variable.py
# Declaring variables
a = 10 # an integer
b = 20.5 # a float
c = "Hello, World!" # a string
variable.py
# Declaring variables
a = 10 # an integer
b = 20.5 # a float
c = "Hello, World!" # a string

Getting the Data Type of a Variable

To get the data type of a variable, you can use the type()type() function.

Example:

variable.py
# Declaring variables
a = 10 # an integer
b = 20.5 # a float
c = "Hello, World!" # a string
 
# Getting the data type of a variable
print(type(a))
print(type(b))
print(type(c))
variable.py
# Declaring variables
a = 10 # an integer
b = 20.5 # a float
c = "Hello, World!" # a string
 
# Getting the data type of a variable
print(type(a))
print(type(b))
print(type(c))

Output:

command
C:\Users\Your Name> python variable.py
<class 'int'>
<class 'float'>
<class 'str'>
command
C:\Users\Your Name> python variable.py
<class 'int'>
<class 'float'>
<class 'str'>

Single and Multiple Assignments

Python allows you to assign a single value to several variables simultaneously.

Example:

variable.py
# Single assignment
a = b = c = 10
print(a, b, c)
 
# Multiple assignments
a, b, c = 10, 20.5, "Hello, World!"
print(a, b, c)
variable.py
# Single assignment
a = b = c = 10
print(a, b, c)
 
# Multiple assignments
a, b, c = 10, 20.5, "Hello, World!"
print(a, b, c)

Output:

command
C:\Users\Your Name> python variable.py
10 10 10
10 20.5 Hello, World!
command
C:\Users\Your Name> python variable.py
10 10 10
10 20.5 Hello, World!

Single Quotes vs Double Quotes

In Python, you can use either single quotes ('') or double quotes ("") to declare a string. Both are valid, but you must use the same type of quotes to start and end a string.

Example:

variable.py
# Single quotes
a = 'Hello, World!'
print(a)
 
# Double quotes
b = "Hello, World!"
print(b)
variable.py
# Single quotes
a = 'Hello, World!'
print(a)
 
# Double quotes
b = "Hello, World!"
print(b)

Output:

command
C:\Users\Your Name> python variable.py
Hello, World!
Hello, World!
command
C:\Users\Your Name> python variable.py
Hello, World!
Hello, World!

Case Sensitivity

Python is case-sensitive, which means that aa and AA are different variables. For example:

Example:

variable.py
# Case-sensitive variables
a = 10
A = 20.5
print(a)
print(A)
variable.py
# Case-sensitive variables
a = 10
A = 20.5
print(a)
print(A)

Output:

command
C:\Users\Your Name> python variable.py
10
20.5
command
C:\Users\Your Name> python variable.py
10
20.5

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