Variables are essential elements in programming languages like Python. they serve as containers to store data values that can be manipulated or referenced in a program. Understanding how variables are declared, assigned values, and named according to conventions is crucial for writing clean and readable Python code.
Variable Declaration and Assignment in Python
In Python, variables are declared by simply assigning a value to them. Unlike some other programming languages, Python does not require explicit declaration of variables or specifying their data types. the variable's data type is inferred based on the value assigned to it. this process is known as variable assignment, which can be done using the equals sign "=" (also known as the assignment operator). Once the value is assigned to a variable, it is created, and we can start using it in other statements or expressions.
for instance, the following code snippet creates a variable named "stockPrice" and assigns the value 100 (an integer) to it.
the variable stockPrice is now created and holds the value 100. You can use it in other expressions or statements as shown below.
Variables in Python can be reassigned to different values, allowing for dynamic changes in a program. A variable's value can be updated by simply assigning a new value to it. You can re-declare a variable by assigning a new value to it. for instance, we can change the value of the "stockPrice" variable to 150 as follows:
You can also assign the values to multiple variables simultaneously using the chaining assignment operation as shown below.
the simultaneous assignment operation in Python provides programmers with a concise and efficient way to assign values to multiple variables in a single line of code.
Naming Conventions for Variables
While naming variables in Python, it is essential to follow proper naming conventions for code clarity and maintainability. Here are some guidelines to follow when naming variables:
Start with a Letter or Underscore: Variable names must begin with a letter (a-z, A-Z) or an underscore (_) character. for example: "stockPrice" or "_stockPrice" are acceptable variable names.
Avoid Starting with a Number: Variable names cannot begin with a number. for example: "1stockPrice" or "1_stockPrice" are invalid variable names.
Use Alphanumeric Characters and Underscores: Variable names can only contain alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9) and underscores (_). for example: "stockPrice", "stock_Price", "stockPrice_1", and "stockPrice_2" are all valid variable names.
Avoid Whitespace and Special Characters: Variable names should not contain whitespace or special characters such as +, -, etc. for example: "stock price" or "stock-price" are invalid variable names.
Case Sensitive: Variable names are case-sensitive. for example: "StockPrice", "stockPrice", and "Stockprice" are considered distinct variables.
Avoid Python Keywords: Avoid using Python keywords as variable names. for example: keywords such as "str", "is", and "for" cannot be used as variable names as they are reserved keywords in Python.
In addition to these guidelines, professional programmers follow certain conventions to enhance code readability (best practices). these practices include using a name that describes the purpose "stockPrice", instead of using dummy or temporary names "temp". It's also common practice to separate words in variable names with underscores "stock_price", and start variable names with lowercase letters "stockPrice".
Following these guidelines and practices can make your code more readable and maintainable. Remember that these are good coding practices recommended by professional programmers, which can be applied to any programming language.
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