Variables & Assignments

  1. Introduction:
    • Variables are ways to store values inside a game or code for later use. It can be numerical or strings(letters and words). It is like a box that has a name but the contents inside cannot be changed. Make sure you name your variables with descriptive, but not long words.
  2. Key concepts:
    • Variable: A container that stores information and values
    • Assignment: The value being assigned to the variable
    • Value: The data inside a variable

Popcorn Hack 1

# Example: snakeSize = 10
snakeSize = ?   # <-- Add the size of the snake
snakeColor = ""   # <-- Add the color of the snake

# Print greeting
print("The snake is " + str(snakeSize) + " inches long and it's " + snakeColor + ".")

3. Python:


age = 15 # Stores "age" as 15, INTEGER
weight = 135 # Stores "weight" as 135, INTEGER
name = "Mike" # Stores "name" as Mike, STRING

JavaScript

(Similar to python)



let age = 15 // Stores "age" as 15 as well, but add let in front
let weight = 135 // Stores "weight" as 135
let name = "Mike" // Stores "name" as Mike

WARNING! Avoid doing the follwing:

let age == 14 // Incorrect as "==" is for comparing values
age = 14 // does not create a variable in JavaScript

Popcorn Hack 2

# Define the win/lose messages first
messageWin = "" # <-- Change this to "You win!"
messageLose = "" # <-- Change this to "You lose!"

# Choose outcome
winOrLose = ""  # <-- Change this to either "win" or "lose"

# Print result
if winOrLose == "win":
    print(messageWin)
else:
    print(messageLose)

Which one do you think is a better variable name?

  1. highScore vs highestScoreInTheGame
  2. firstName vs 1stName
  3. ID vs studentID

Multiple Choice!

Compete as teams and try to win!

MCQ