Variables and Basic Data Types

Learning Objectives: After this lesson, you'll understand how Python stores data with variables, explore fundamental data types, and see how Python manages memory automatically.

Understanding Variables

Think of variables as labeled containers that store data. Unlike some programming languages, Python variables are more like name tags attached to data rather than fixed storage boxes.

Variable Naming Rules

Python has specific rules for naming variables:

Python's Built-in Data Types

Python has several fundamental data types. Let's explore each one:

1. Numbers (int and float)

2. Strings (Text Data)

3. Booleans (True/False)

Memory Visualization

Let's see how Python manages memory for different variables:

Type Conversion

Python can convert between different data types:

Variable Tracker in Action

Let's see multiple variables working together:

Dynamic Typing

Python is dynamically typed, meaning variables can change their type:

Practical Examples

Example 1: User Profile

Example 2: Temperature Converter

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Personal Information

Exercise 2: Shopping Calculator

Key Takeaways

✅ Variables are labels - They point to data in memory, not storage boxes
✅ Dynamic typing - Variables can change type during program execution
✅ Four basic types - int, float, str, bool cover most basic needs
✅ Type conversion - Use int(), float(), str(), bool() to convert between types
✅ Good naming - Use descriptive, consistent variable names
✅ Memory management - Python handles memory automatically

Next Steps

In the next lesson, we'll learn about making decisions with conditions - how to use if statements, comparison operators, and boolean logic to control program flow.

Ready to make your programs smarter? The next lesson will teach you how to make decisions in code!