Python Basics: Variables and Data Types

Ever wonder how computers remember information? In Python, we use variables to store data. Think of variables as labeled containers that hold different types of information you can use later in your code.

Python has six basic data types you'll use all the time. Integers are whole numbers like 5 or -12, while floats are decimal values like 3.14 or -2.5. Strings hold text inside quotes like "Hello World!", and booleans are simply True or False values used for yes/no situations. For collections of data, you can use lists which hold multiple items in order, or dictionaries that store information in key-value pairs.

Creating a variable in Python is super straightforward - just give it a name, use the equals sign, and provide a value:

name = "John"
age = 25

Pro Tip: Choose descriptive variable names that help you remember what they contain. Good names make your code easier to understand when you come back to it later!

Print Statements and If Conditions

Want to see results from your code? The print() function displays information on your screen. It's like telling Python to show you what's happening inside your program:

print("Hello World!")
print(3.14)

Making decisions is a key part of programming, and that's where if statements come in. They let your program check conditions and do different things based on whether those conditions are true or false:

if age >= 18:  # condition
    print("Hello,", name)
    print("You are an adult.")
else:  # otherwise
    print("Hello,", name)
    print("You are a minor.")

You can handle multiple conditions by adding elif (short for "else if") between your if and else statements. This creates a chain of checks that makes your program even smarter about how it responds to different situations.

Remember: Indentation matters in Python! The indented lines after an if statement are what runs when the condition is true, so be careful with your spacing.