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Introduction To Variables in Python

A Python variable is a reserved memory location that stores values. Variables can be declared using any name and allow data to be processed. Variables can have different data types like numbers, strings, lists, and dictionaries. Variables can be declared and initialized, like defining variable "a" as 100 and printing it. Variables can also be re-declared and reassigned new values. Python distinguishes between local variables that are only available inside a function and global variables that are accessible from anywhere. The 'del' keyword can be used to delete a variable.

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103 views

Introduction To Variables in Python

A Python variable is a reserved memory location that stores values. Variables can be declared using any name and allow data to be processed. Variables can have different data types like numbers, strings, lists, and dictionaries. Variables can be declared and initialized, like defining variable "a" as 100 and printing it. Variables can also be re-declared and reassigned new values. Python distinguishes between local variables that are only available inside a function and global variables that are accessible from anywhere. The 'del' keyword can be used to delete a variable.

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Codermate
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is a Variable in Python?

A Python variable is a reserved memory location to store values. In other words, a


variable in a python program gives data to the computer for processing.

Python Variable Types


Every value in Python has a datatype. Different data types in Python are Numbers,
List, Tuple, Strings, Dictionary, etc. Variables in Python can be declared by any
name or even alphabets like a, aa, abc, etc.

How to Declare and use a Variable


Let see an example. We will define variable in Python and declare it as "a" and
print it.

a=100
print (a)

Re-declare a Variable
You can re-declare Python variables even after you have declared once.

Here we have Python declare variable initialized to f=0.

Later, we re-assign the variable f to value "guru99"


Python 2 Example

# Declare a variable and initialize it


f = 0
print f
# re-declaring the variable works
f = 'guru99'
print f

Python 3 Example

# Declare a variable and initialize it


f = 0
print(f)
# re-declaring the variable works
f = 'guru99'
print(f)

Python String Concatenation and Variable


Let's see whether you can concatenate different data types like string and number
together. For example, we will concatenate "Guru" with the number "99".
Unlike Java, which concatenates number with string without declaring number as
string, while declaring variables in Python requires declaring the number as string
otherwise it will show a TypeError

For the following code, you will get undefined output -

a="Guru"
b = 99
print a+b

Once the integer is declared as string, it can concatenate both "Guru" + str("99")=
"Guru99" in the output.

a="Guru"
b = 99
print(a+str(b))

Python Variable Types: Local & Global


There are two types of variables in Python, Global variable and Local variable.
When you want to use the same variable for rest of your program or module you
declare it as a global variable, while if you want to use the variable in a specific
function or method, you use a local variable while Python variable declaration.

Let's understand this Python variable types with the difference between local and
global variables in the below program.
1. Let us define variable in Python where the variable "f" is global in scope
and is assigned value 101 which is printed in output
2. Variable f is again declared in function and assumes local scope. It is
assigned value "I am learning Python." which is printed out as an output.
This Python declare variable is different from the global variable "f" defined
earlier
3. Once the function call is over, the local variable f is destroyed. At line 12,
when we again, print the value of "f" is it displays the value of global
variable f=101

Python 2 Example

# Declare a variable and initialize it


f = 101
print f
# Global vs. local variables in functions
def someFunction():
# global f
f = 'I am learning Python'
print f
someFunction()
print f

Python 3 Example
# Declare a variable and initialize it
f = 101
print(f)
# Global vs. local variables in functions
def someFunction():
# global f
f = 'I am learning Python'
print(f)
someFunction()
print(f)

While Python variable declaration using the keyword global, you can reference the
global variable inside a function.

1. Variable "f" is global in scope and is assigned value 101 which is printed in
output
2. Variable f is declared using the keyword global. This is NOT a local
variable, but the same global variable declared earlier. Hence when we print
its value, the output is 101
3. We changed the value of "f" inside the function. Once the function call is
over, the changed value of the variable "f" persists. At line 12, when we
again, print the value of "f" is it displays the value "changing global
variable"
Python 2 Example

f = 101;
print f
# Global vs.local variables in functions
def someFunction():
global f
print f
f = "changing global variable"
someFunction()
print f

Python 3 Example

f = 101;
print(f)
# Global vs.local variables in functions
def someFunction():
global f
print(f)
f = "changing global variable"
someFunction()
print(f)

Delete a variable
You can also delete Python variables using the command del "variable name".

In the below example of Python delete variable, we deleted variable f, and when
we proceed to print it, we get error "variable name is not defined" which means
you have deleted the variable.
Example of Python delete variable or Python clear variable :

f = 11;
print(f)
del f
print(f)

Summary:
 Variables are referred to "envelop" or "buckets" where information can be
maintained and referenced. Like any other programming language Python
also uses a variable to store the information.
 Variables can be declared by any name or even alphabets like a, aa, abc, etc.
 Variables can be re-declared even after you have declared them for once
 In Python you cannot concatenate string with number directly, you need to
declare them as a separate variable, and after that, you can concatenate
number with string
 Python constants can be understood as types of variables that hold the value
which can not be changed. Usually Python constants are referenced from
other files. Python define constant is declared in a new or separate file which
contains functions, modules, etc.
 Types of variables in Python or Python variable types : Local & Global
 Declare local variable when you want to use it for current function
 Declare Global variable when you want to use the same variable for rest of
the program
 To delete a variable, it uses keyword "del".

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