variables

n. something given to variation; quantity that may represent any one of a set of values (Mathematics); star whose brightness variates at intervals (Astronomy)

In computer science and mathematics, a variable (IPA pronunciation: ) (sometimes called a pronumeral) is a symbolic representation denoting a quantity or expression. In mathematics, a variable often represents an "unknown" quantity that has the potential to change; in computer science, it represents a place where a quantity can be stored. Variables are often contrasted with constants, which are known and unchanging.
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adj. variable, mixed, changing, inconstant

n. variable, something given to variation; quantity that may represent any one of a set of values (Mathematics); star whose brightness variates at intervals (Astronomy)

adj. variable, changeable; wayward; up and down; unsettled

n. variable, something given to variation; quantity that may represent any one of a set of values (Mathematics); star whose brightness variates at intervals (Astronomy)

<programming> A named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read it them. Each programming language has different rules about how variables can be named, typed, and used. Typically, a value is "assigned" to a variable in an assignment statement. The value is obtained by evaluating an expression and then stored in the variable. For example, the assignment
x = y + 1
means "add one to y and store the result in x". This may look like a mathematical equation but the mathematical equality is only true in the program until the value of x or y changes. Furthermore, statements like
x = x + 1
are common. This means "add one to x", which only makes sense as a state changing operation, not as a mathematical equality.
The simplest form of variable corresponds to a single-word of memory or a CPU register and an assignment to a load or store machine code operation.
A variable is usually defined to have a type, which never changes, and which defines the set of values the variable can hold. A type may specify a single ("atomic") value or a collection ("aggregate") of values of the same or different types. A common aggregate type is the array - a set of values, one of which can be selected by supplying a numerical index.
Languages may be untyped, weakly typed, strongly typed, or some combination. Object-oriented programming languages extend this to object types or classes.
A variable's scope is the region of the program source within which it represents a certain thing. Scoping rules are also highly language dependent but most serious languages support both local and global variables.
In a functional programming language, a variable's value never changes and change of state is handled as recursion over lists of values.
(2003-12-23)