Variables are containers for storing data values. Python has no command for declaring a variable, instead creating it when you first assign a value to it.

Example:

x = 8
y = "Johnny"
print(x)
print(y)

If you want to specify the data type of a variable, this can be done with casting.

Casting in python is therefore done using constructor functions:

• int() – constructs an integer number from an integer literal, a float literal (by removing all decimals), or a string literal (providing the string represents a whole number)
• float() – constructs a float number from an integer literal, a float literal or a string literal (providing the string represents a float or an integer)
• str() – constructs a string from a wide variety of data types, including strings, integer literals and float literals

x = int(1)         #x will be 1
y = int(3.6)       #y will be 3
z = int("8")       #z will be 8

x = float(1)       #x will be 1.0
y = float(3.6)     #y will be 3.6
z = float("8.5")   #z will be 8.5

x = str("h1")      #x will be 'h1'
y = str(3.6)       #y will be '3.6'
z = str(8)         #z will be '8'

You can get the data type of a variable with the type() function.

x = 8
y = "Johnny"
print(type(x))
print(type(y))

This will output:

<class 'int'>
<class 'str'>

String variables can be declared either by using single or double quotes.

x = "Johnny"
#is the same as
x = 'Johnny'

Variable names ARE case-sensitive

a = 8
A = "Johnny"
#A will NOT overwrite a

---