What is a variable in programming?

A variable in programming is fundamentally a storage location identified by a name that can hold data which may change during program execution. This concept is central to programming because it allows developers to create programs that can adapt to different inputs and states over time.

When a variable is declared, it is assigned a name that represents the data stored in that specific storage location. This name can be used throughout the program to access or manipulate the data as needed. Since the value of a variable can change (i.e., it is mutable), it enables dynamic operations within the program, as the program can respond differently depending on the variable values at runtime.

For example, if you declare a variable to store a user's score in a game, as the user performs actions that impact their score, the value of this variable will change, reflecting the current score at any moment in the game.

This ability to store and modify data is crucial for creating flexible and interactive applications, distinguishing variables from fixed values, which do not change during the execution of the program.