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What is the difference between literal and variables in Python? [closed]

I'm a beginner user for Python, but I get confused between literal and variables.

This is what I know about a literal: "a"+"b"

And variables: sentence="a"+"b"

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Wuchun Aaron Avatar asked Apr 20 '13 04:04

Wuchun Aaron


2 Answers

A literal is notation for representing a fixed (const) value.
A variable is storage location associated with a symbolic name (pointed to, if you'd like).

It's best explained in use:

foo = bar(42)
^     ^   ^
|     |   |--- literal, 42 is *literally* 42
|     |------- function, also represents "something" in memory
|------------- variable, named "foo", and the content may vary (is variable)

Identifier on the other hand is the name assigned to a variable in a python statement.

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timss Avatar answered Oct 08 '22 14:10

timss


In any programming language a Literal is a constant value, where as identifiers can change their values. Identifiers can store literals and process them further. Identifiers are name given to variables.

1, 1.5, 'a', "abc", etc. are examples for literals. But in the statement x=123, x is a variable and 123 is a Literal.

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Deepu Avatar answered Oct 08 '22 15:10

Deepu