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Algorithms - Variables and
Data Types
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Agenda
➢ What is a variable
➢ Data types
➢ Assigning a value to a variable
➢ Comparing variable values
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Tools
➢ Visual Studio Code
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What is a variable
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What is a variable
A variable is a series of alphanumeric characters that is used as a name for the
area of the computer memory that stores a value.
Example:
shoeSize = 3
● “shoeSize” is the name of the variable
● “3” is the value of the variable
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Data types
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Data types
A variable can store data of different types.
Example:
● numericValue = 3.14
● textValue = “Ana likes apples”
● booleanValue = true
● booleanValue = false
A boolean variable can have only 2 values: true or false.
All values are stored in the computer memory as binary numbers.
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Data types
A variable can also store collection of values.
Example:
● arrayOfNumbers = [ 5, 9, 12, 22 ]
● arrayOfWords = [ “keyboard”, “mouse”, “monitor” ]
● arrayOfBooleans = [ true, false, false, true]
Each value in the array has a position.
The position of the first element in the array is 0.
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Data types
We can use the position (sometimes named index) of a value to retrieve a single
value from the array.
Example:
0 1 2 3 <= position / index of the value
arrayOfNumbers = [ 5, 9, 12, 22 ]
The statement “arrayOfNumbers[0]” returns the value 5
The statement “arrayOfNumbers[2]” returns the value 12
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Data types
0 1 2
arrayOfWords = [ “keyboard”, “mouse”, “monitor” ]
The statement “arrayOfWords[0]” returns the value “keyboard”
The statement “arrayOfWords[2]” returns the value “monitor”
The statement “arrayOfWords[3]” returns the value undefined (or generates an
error)
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Assigning a value to a variable
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Assigning a value to a variable
To set (assign) a value to a variable we use the “=” symbol.
Example:
a=5
When we assign a value to a variable the value is saved as a binary value in the
computer memory.
Each memory block from the computer has an address. We will use the variable
name as an alias for the memory address where the value is stored.
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Assigning a value to a variable
Algorithm: Computer memory:
a=5 0xf1dc8006 0101 Value 5 in
binary
b=3 0xf1dc800a 0011
Value 3 in
binary
Memory address of the
that stores the value of
the variable named “a” Memory address of the
that stores the value of
the variable named “b”
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Assigning a value to a variable
A the result of an expression can also be assigned as the value of a variable
Example:
b=2+3
The expression is separated by the “=” symbol in 2 parts
The left part is always the variable name (“b” in the example above)
The right part can be a value or another expression (“2+3” in the example above)
The right part is evaluated first.
That means that the computer will calculate the result of 2+3 and replace it with
the value 5.
Then the calculated value will be assigned to the variable b.
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Assigning a value to a variable
If the right side expression contains a variable the variable will be replaced with it’s
value.
Example:
a=5
b=a+3
1. The computer will replace the variable “a” with it’s value resulting in the
equivalent expression “b = 5 + 3”
2. The computer will calculated and replace the add operation with it’s result
thus giving the equivalent expression “b = 8”
3. The computer will save the value 8 at the computer memory address
reserved for the variable names “b”
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Assigning a value to a variable
The value of a variable can be updated based on the initial variable value.
Example:
a=5
a=a+3
1. The computer will replace the variable “a” with it’s value resulting in the
equivalent expression “a = 5 + 3”
2. The computer will calculated and replace the add operation with it’s result
thus giving the equivalent expression “a = 8”
3. The computer will save the value 8 at the computer memory address
reserved for the variable names “a”
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Comparing variable values
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Comparing variable values
Values can be compared between each other. The result of a comparison is
always a value of type boolean
Example:
a=5<3
After the statement above is computed the variable “a” will have the value “false”
Example:
a=5
b=3<a
After the statement above is computed the variable “b” will have the value “true”
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Comparing variable values
We use the “==” sign to indicate that we are comparing to values. (asignment is
indicated with the symbol “=”)
Example:
x=3
y=3
a = x == y
1. The computer will replace the variable “x” and “y” with theyr value resulting in
the equivalent expression “a = 3 == 3”
2. The computer will replace the comparison with it’s result resulting in the
equivalent expression “a = true”
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Comparing variable values
Other comparison symbols are:
● < (smaller then)
● <= (smaller or equal then)
● > (greather then)
● >= (greather or equal then)
● == (equals)
● != (not equal)
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Comparing variable values
Multiple comparison can be changed together using boolean operators.
AND operator
A B C (A AND B)
false false false
false true false
true false false
true true true
Sometimes AND is represented with “&&”
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Comparing variable values
OR operator:
A B C (A OR B)
false false false
false true true
true false true
true true true
Sometimes OR is represented with ||
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Comparing variable values
NOT operator:
A B (NOT A)
false true
true false
Sometimes NOT is represented with !
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Comparing variable values
Example:
a=3
b=a+1
c = NOT(a == b) AND (b > (a -1))
Steps taken by the computing machine for the example above:
1. a = 3
2. b = 4
3. c = NOT(3 == 4) AND (4 > (3-1))
4. c = NOT(false) AND (4 > (2))
5. c = true AND true
6. c = true
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Thank you!
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