Unit 2 - Data Basics: Variables

Definitions

• Variable: is a named memory location which temporarily stores dat that can change while the program is running.\\
• Final: is named memory location which temporarily stores data that remains the same throughout the execution of the program.
• Type: indicate what kind of value it will store.
• The name of the variable is know as its identifier.
• A variable is given a value through an assignment statement.

Rules for assigning variables

• Assign short, int or long data when a variable is whole number
• Assign float or double when decimals are needed.
• Assign char if the variable will always contain only one character.

Rules for naming variables

• All variable names must begin with a letter of an alphabet, underscore _ OR $
• Variables names may alsos contain letters and and th digits 0 to 9 no spaces
• Uppercase characters are distinct from lowercase characters. Using ALL are primarily used to identify constant variables

All Variables must be declared before they can be used

• Choose the type you need
• Choose name for variable
• use the following format for a declaration statement.
• you may declare more than one variable.
• you may initialize a variable

Slide 5