Using Variables in Different
Algorithms
A Lesson on Variables, Data Types,
and Algorithms
What is a Variable?
• A variable is used for storing data.
Programmers give specific names to variables.
Once a variable is created, it can be used
throughout the program. The data in the
variable can change.
• Example: In a video game, a variable stores
the number of lives you have. Each time your
character dies, the number of lives decreases
by 1. When lives reach 0, the game is over.
Data Types
• In programming, a data type determines the
kind of value a variable can hold. Common
data types:
• 1. Integer: Whole numbers (e.g., 3, 5, 10)
• 2. String: Alphanumeric text like words or
phrases (e.g., 'Hello123')
• 3. Character: Single letters, digits, or symbols
(e.g., 'a', '5', '$')
Variables and Data Types in Action
• Example:
• 1. Variable `lives` stores an integer to track
lives in a game.
• 2. Variable `name` stores a string to hold a
player's name.
• 3. Variable `symbol` stores a character for an
avatar.
Algorithm 1
• 1. Start
• 2. Create variable `X`
• 3. Create variable `Y`
• 4. Create variable `answer`
• 5. Stop
• All variables in Algorithm 1 are created to
store integers.
Key Terminology
• Keyword: Alphanumeric
• - Data that contains both letters and numbers.
• Example: 'Code123' is alphanumeric.
