Variables in Python

Variables in Python are fundamental building blocks, serving as containers for storing data values. In Python, memory space is allocated automatically without the need for explicit declaration when a value is assigned to a variable. The assignment of values to variables is done using the equal sign (=).

Example of Variable in Python

Python is dynamically-typed, which means you don't need to declare the type of a variable explicitly. Here's an example to illustrate how variables work in Python:

Output:

Variables Assignment

Python simplifies variable assignment, making it easy and intuitive for developers.

Creating Variables

In Python, creating a variable is as simple as assigning it a value. Python is dynamically typed, so you don't need to declare the type. The variable is created the moment you first assign a value to it.

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Python Redeclaring Variables

You can redeclare a variable in Python by assigning a new value to it. This can even change the variable's type, due to Python's dynamic typing.

Output:

Initially, x is an integer. After redeclaration, x becomes a string.

Python Assign Values to Multiple Variables

Python allows assigning values to multiple variables in one line, making your code concise and readable.

Output:

Assigning Different Values to Multiple Variables

You can assign different types of values to multiple variables in a single statement in Python.

Output:

Here, a becomes an integer (5), b a float (3.2), and c a string ("Hello").

Can We Use the Same Name for Different Types?

Yes, in Python, we can use the same variable name for different types. Due to Python's dynamic typing, the type of a variable is inferred from the value assigned, and the type can change as you reassign different values.

output:

+ Operator with Variables

The + operator in Python can be used with variables for addition or concatenation, depending on the data type.

• For numbers, it performs addition:

Output:

• For strings, it performs concatenation:

Output:

Using the + operator between different types (e.g., a string and an integer) without explicit conversion will result in a TypeError.

Global and Local Python Variables

In Python, variables' scope—where they can be accessed—is determined by where they are defined. The two main types of variable scope are global and local.

Global Variables

Global variables are declared outside of functions or in the global scope, meaning they can be accessed throughout your code, including inside functions. They are useful when multiple functions need to access the same data.

Output:

In this example, x is a global variable accessible both inside and outside of the function().

Local Variables

Local variables are declared inside a function and can only be used within that function's scope of variables in python. They are created when the function starts and destroyed when the function ends.

Output:

Here, y is a local variable, only accessible inside function().

Global keyword in Python

The global keyword in Python plays a pivotal role in modifying global variables from within a function's scope. It's used to declare that a variable inside a function is global, not local, allowing you to update the global variable's value from within the function.

Example

Without the global keyword, any variable assigned a value within a function is assumed to be local unless explicitly declared as global.

Output:

In this example, the global keyword allows the change_global_x function to modify the global variable x.

Types of variables in python

Python variables can also hold different types of data. Here are some common types along with a single example for each, showcasing how they are used and their typical output:

Integers (int)

Integers are whole numbers without a fractional component.

Floating Point Numbers (float)

Floats are real numbers; they include a decimal point to represent fractions.

Strings (str)

Strings consist of character sequences, utilized for depicting text.

Booleans (bool)

Booleans represent one of two values: True or False.

Lists

Lists are sequences of elements that maintain an order and can contain items of various types.

Tuples

Tuples resemble lists in many aspects, yet they are immutable, signifying that once created, they cannot be altered.

Dictionaries (dict)

Dictionaries hold key-value pairs. Keys must be unique and immutable.

Sets

Sets are unordered collections of unique elements.

Each of these variable types serves different purposes in Python programming, allowing for a flexible approach to solving a wide array of problems.

Delete a variable

Just like declaring and using variables in Python is so easy, even deleting a Python variable is not a difficult task either.

Python automatically removes variables and functions from memory when they are no longer in use, thereby liberating space. Users have the option to manually eliminate variables and functions as well. This feature is particularly beneficial when substantial data structures become redundant, as their deletion liberates memory for alternative applications. This is the rationale behind Python providing the delete feature to its users.

You can delete a variable using the del command in Python.

Let’s take a look at how we do it practically and what is the output that we get –

Here, we have re-used our total number of chocolates example. We declared it initially and now we are deleting it.

Output –

Using the del command, we have successfully deleted the variable no_of_chocolates.

Object References

The topic of variables in Python is incomplete without understanding how the Python interpreter works when we declare a variable. It is slightly different when compared to other programming languages.

We all know that Python is an object-oriented language. Hence, every object belongs to a specific class.

Consider the following example –

We have declared a variable and assigned a string in the above example. Now, we print it to the console first. In the last line of the code, you will notice that we have used the type function.

What is the type function doing? Let’s take a look –

We can see that a string object is created of the class str! Thus, we can say that variables in Python are symbolic names that point to an object, just like the example we looked at.

See Also

• Sum() in Python.
• Type of variables in Python.
• Private Variables in Python