Variables

Store a value now, use it later.

Python figures out the kind for you. You just pick a name and use =.

Anything inside quotes.

name = "Steve"
print(name)

Output

Steve

No decimal point.

age = 24
print(age)

Output

Has a decimal point.

angle = 31.8
print(angle)

Output

31.8

Only two options. Both start with a capital letter.

is_raining = True
print(is_raining)

Output

True

Symbol	What it does	Example
+	Add	7 + 2 gives 9
-	Subtract	7 - 2 gives 5
*	Multiply	7 * 2 gives 14
/	Divide, always gives a decimal	7 / 2 gives 3.5
//	Divide and drop the decimal	7 // 2 gives 3
%	Remainder after dividing	7 % 2 gives 1
**	Raise to a power	7 ** 2 gives 49

These hand back a new piece of text. The variable itself does not change unless you store the result.

Method	What it does	Example
.upper()	Every letter capital	"becca".upper() gives "BECCA"
.lower()	Every letter lowercase	"BECCA".lower() gives "becca"
.capitalize()	First letter capital, the rest lowercase	"bECCA".capitalize() gives "Becca"

.upper() shouts the whole thing.

name = "becca"
print(name.upper())

Output

BECCA

.lower() is the one you reach for most, because it makes two pieces of text easy to compare.

name = "BECCA"
print(name.lower())

Output

becca

.capitalize() also lowercases everything after the first letter.

name = "bECCA"
print(name.capitalize())

Output

Becca

Use this one

Store the result in a variable, or use it right where you need it.

name = "becca"
loud = name.upper()
print(loud)

Output

BECCA

Common mistake

name.upper() on its own throws the new text away. name is still the way it was.

name = "becca"
name.upper()
print(name)

Output

becca

Start the line with # and Python ignores it.

# This line is a note for humans. Python skips it.
score = 0
print(score)

Output