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correcting a major error: variable is not identical to the notion of identifier |
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In computer programming, a '''variable''' is a facility for storing data. The current [[value (computer science)|value]] of the variable is the [[Data (computing)|data]] actually stored in the variable. Depending on the programming language in question, the data stored in the variable can be intentionally altered during the program run. This is why it is called variable. The variable can be [[Reference (computer science)|referenced]] by [[identifier]]s. In contemporary programming languages even non identical identifiers can refer to the same variable.
== Old lead of the article ==
In [[computer programming]], a '''variable''' is an [[identifier]] (usually a letter, word, or phrase) that is linked to a [[value (computer science)|value]] stored in the system's [[Computer data storage|memory]] or an [[Expression (programming)|expression]] that can be evaluated. For instance, a variable might be called "<code>total_count</code>" and contain a number.
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