In programming, a “variable” is a container in which a data value can be stored within the computer’s memory. The stored value can then be referenced using the variable’s name.

The programmer can choose any name for a variable, except the Python keywords listed on the inside front cover of this book, and it is good practice to choose meaningful names that reflect the variable’s content.

Data to be stored in a variable is assigned in a Python program declaration statement with the = assignment operator.