Working with variables in Python
A variable in Python represents named location that refers to a value and whose values can be used and processed during program run.
Example :
Name=”Lovejot” Percentage=91
There are two variables Name and Percentage with values “Lovejot” and 91 respectively.
Creating a Variable
In Python , we can simply write a statement containing a valid identifier assigned with a valid value. Python automatically creates the variable of the same data type as the data type of value assigned. Example 1:
marks=90
In above statement, variable marks is an integer variable containing value 90.
Example 2:
Sname=”Lovejot”
In above statement, variable Sname is a string variable containing value “Lovejot”.
Example 3:
Balance=1000.50
In above statement, variable Balance is a float variable containing value 1000.50.
Lvalues and Rvalues
lvalue : it is the variable or expressions that can come on the left hand side of an assignment statement.
rvalue : it is the expression that can come on the right hand side of an assignment statement.
Example:
Name=”Lovejot”
Here Name is lvalue and “Lovejot” is rvalue.
“Lovejot”=Name is wrong as rvalue “Lovejot” can’t come at left hand side of assignment statement.
** Lvalues can come on left hand side as well as right hand side of an assignment statement.
**Rvalues can only appear at right hand side of assignment statement.
Multiple Assignments
1. Assigning same value to multiple variables
We can assign same value to multiple variables in a single statement
Example:
a=b=c=20
It will assign value 20 to variables a, b, c i.e. all three variables a,b and c will refer to same location with value 20.
2. Assigning multiple values to multiple variables
We can even assign multiple values to multiple variables in single statement.
Example:
x,y,z = 10, 20, 30
First variable is x is given first value i.e. 10, second variable y gets second value i.e. 20 and third variable z gets value 30.
Because x is having value 25 and y is having 50. Now, if you want to swap values of x and y, you just need to write :
3. Interchanging values of two variables.
We can also interchange values of two variables in single statement.
Example:
x,y=10,20 #x gets 10 and y gets 20 x, y = y , x #x gets values of y i.e. 20 and y gets values of x i.e. 10 print (x,y) will give output as interchanged values i.e. 20 10
Variable Definition
A variable in Python is not created until some value is assigned to it.
Example:
print (x) #Line 1 x = 20 print (x)
When we run the above code, it will produce an error for the first statement (Line 1) i.e. name ‘x’ not defined.
This is because x has not been assigned any value but it is printed in line 1.
So, to correct the above code, we need to assign some value to x before using it in a statement as
x = 0 #variable x created now print (x) x = 20 print (x)
Now the above code will run without any error.
Dynamic Typing
Dynamic typing means that data type of a variable can change during program execution.
Example:
x = 10 #Statement 1 x = “Hello” #Statement2 print(x)
In Statement1 variable x is referring to an integer value 10.
In Statement2 variable x has been assigned a string value ”Hello”.
The output of above code will be
Hello
Because value of variable x has been modified by value ‘Hello’
Initially variable x is first referring to an integer value 10 and then to a string value “Hello”.
This is not an error as Python will accept it . This is known as Dynamic Typing.
Caution with Dynamic Typing
There is no problem in Python to change data type of a variable but programmer needs to be careful while assigning values as wrong assignment may generate errors .
Example
X = 10 Y = X/2 X = ‘Hello’ Y = X/2 #this lines will give error as string value can’t be divided .