Variables and Data Types
In this lecture
Naming variables
Basic data types
◦ Identify data type of an object
◦ Verify if an object is of a certain data type
◦ Coerce object to new data type
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Naming variables
Values assigned to variables using an
assignment operator ‘=’
Variable name should be short and
descriptive
◦ Avoid using variable names that clash with
inbuilt functions
Designed to indicate the intent of its use to
the end user
Avoid one character variable names
◦ One character variable names are usually
used in looping constructs, functions, etc
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Naming variables
Variables can be named alphanumerically
However the first letter must start with an alphabet
(lowercase or uppercase)
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Naming variables
Other special character
◦ Underscore ( _ )
◦ Use of any other special
character will throw an error
◦ Variable names should not begin
or end with underscore even
though both are allowed
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Naming conventions
Commonly accepted case types
◦ Camel (lower and upper)
◦ Snake
◦ Pascal
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Assigning values to multiple variables
Code
Values reflected in environment
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Data types
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Basic data types
Basic data
Description Values Representation
types
represents two values of logic and
Boolean True and False bool
associated with conditional statements
Integer positive and negative whole numbers set of all integers, Z int
Complex contains real and imaginary part (a+ib) set of complex numbers complex
Float real numbers floating point numbers float
all strings or characters enclosed
String sequence of characters str
between single or double quotes
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Identifying object data type
Find data type of object using
Syntax: type(object)
Checking the data type of an object
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Verifying object data type
Verifyif an object is of a certain data type
Syntax: type(object) is datatype
Verifying the data type of an object
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Coercing object to new data type
Convert the data type of an object to another
Syntax: datatype(object)
Changes can be stored in same variable or in different variable
Coercing the data type of an object
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Coercing object to new data type
Only few coercions are accepted
Consider the variable ‘Salary_tier’ which is of string data type
‘Salary_tier’ contains an integer enclosed between single
quotes
Coercing the data type of an
object
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Coercing object to new data type
However if the value enclosed within the quotes is a string then
conversions will not be possible
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Summary
Conventions to name a variable
Basic data types
◦ Get data type of a variable
◦ Verify if a variable is of a certain data type
◦ Coerce variable to new data type
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THANK YOU