3.2 Data Types & Variables

Imagine you're organizing a box of different things: some are numbers, some are words, and some are just "yes" or "no" answers. You wouldn't store a number in the same way you store a long story, right?

In programming, Data Types are like categories for the different kinds of information a computer can work with. They tell the computer what kind of data to expect (like a whole number, a decimal number, a letter, or a sentence) and how much space to set aside for it.

A Variable is like a named container or a labeled box in the computer's memory. You use variables to store data. When you create a variable, you have to tell the computer what type of data it will hold. This helps the computer understand how to handle the information.

For example, if you have a variable called age, you'd tell the computer it's a number. If you have a variable called name, you'd tell it it's text.

Understanding data types and variables is super important because they are the building blocks for storing and manipulating all the information in your programs!