Variables

Explain™ allows you to store data in variables. Whenever you have variables (and what computer language would be useful without them?), you need to be aware of three issues:

• Data Storage: Where data are stored and when are data accessible.
• Data type: What format the data are in, and what can be done to them.
• Data Value: The actual value(s) a piece of data represents.

For example, consider the simple Explain assignment statement:

A = 1

The A refers to a variable in which we have stored a value of 1. Later on we can use the data in A:

B = A

Now A and B both contain the value 1.

There are three data-storage categories for variables:

• Locals
• Globals
• Arguments