variablesconstant

A variable in programming is a symbolic name given to a storage location in memory that can hold a value. This value can be changed or modified during the execution of a program. Variables are fundamental to programming as they allow developers to store and manipulate data. For example, a variable named 'score' might initially be set to 0 and then incremented as a player earns points in a game. The data type of a variable determines the kind of values it can hold, such as integers, floating-point numbers, strings, or boolean values.

A constant, on the other hand, is also a symbolic name given to a value, but this value is fixed and cannot be changed after it has been initially assigned. Constants are used for values that are known in advance and are not expected to vary throughout the program's execution. Examples include mathematical constants like pi, configuration settings, or maximum limits. Using constants makes code more readable and maintainable, as it avoids "magic numbers" – unexplained numerical values scattered throughout the code. If a constant value needs to be updated, it only needs to be changed in one place, rather than searching for and modifying every instance of that value. The distinction between variables and constants lies in their mutability, with variables being changeable and constants being immutable.