Variables and Data Types

In this chapter, we’ll cover the basics of Python programming. If you already know the language, feel free to skip ahead.

Before you can analyze data, you need a way to store values in memory for later use.

This is where variables come in — they let you assign names to pieces of information so your code can reference them easily.

In data analysis, you often work with values such as scores, prices, temperatures, or timestamps.

Instead of writing those values repeatedly, you can store them in variables.

This makes your code cleaner, easier to update, and more reusable.

Copy
# Store a value in a variable
score = 85

# Use the variable in an expression
total = score + 10

Python doesn't treat all values the same. It automatically assigns each variable a type based on the value you assign.

In Python, when you assign a value, the variables' type is determined automatically.

The commonly used data types in Python are as follows:

• String
• Number
• Boolean
• List
• Dictionary
• Tuple
• Set

When working with real datasets, it is often necessary to check or convert data types before performing analysis.

A good analyst writes not just correct code, but clean and readable code.

Choosing clear variable names and understanding data types will make your work easier to debug, share, and explain.