In Python, a variable is essentially a named data container that holds a value. This allows you to store and manipulate data within your programs. The values assigned to variables can change over time, which is a fundamental aspect of programming. For instance, you can create a variable to store a person’s name or age, and later update these values as needed ³⁵.

When assigning values to variables in Python, you use the assignment operator =. It’s important to note that Python variables do not strictly hold values; instead, they reference the objects that contain the values. This means you can assign different types of data to the same variable without any explicit declaration ¹⁵. Additionally, you can assign multiple values to multiple variables simultaneously, which adds flexibility to your coding ¹.

Overall, understanding how variables work is crucial for effective programming in Python, as they are foundational to data manipulation and logic flow in your applications.