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Practice

Variable Assignment

In programming, 'assignment' simply means 'putting something into a box.'

Here, the 'box' is what we call a 'variable', and the 'something' can be various types of data like numbers, characters, etc.


How do we assign?​

In JavaScript (and most programming languages), we use the = symbol to assign values.

Example 1:

Assigning the string 'apple' to the variable fruit
let fruit = 'apple';

In the code above, we put the string 'apple' into the box (variable) named fruit.

We can use the = symbol to assign the string value 'apple' to the variable fruit.


Example 2:

Assigning the number 20 to the variable age
let age = 20;

Here, we put the numeric value 20 into the box named age. In other words, we assigned the number 20 to the variable age.


Can we assign multiple times?​

Variables declared with var and let can be reassigned.

Reassigning the variable color
let color = 'blue';
color = 'red';

Initially, we put the value 'blue' into the box named color.

But in the next line, we put the value 'red' into the box. After this reassignment, the value of color becomes 'red', and the old value 'blue' is discarded.


Points to Note​

Once a value is assigned to a variable declared with const, it cannot be changed. This means 'reassignment is not allowed.'

Variables declared with const cannot be reassigned
const birthYear = 2000;
birthYear = 2001; // Error occurs!

Summary​

Think of 'assignment' as simply 'putting data into a box.'

Assignment allows you to store information in variables and use that information later on.

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