Variables and Data Types

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

Before analyzing data, you need a way to store values in memory so you can use them later.

This is where variables come in. A variable lets you give a name to a piece of information so your code can reuse it whenever needed.

In data analysis, you deal with values like scores, prices, temperatures, or timestamps.

Instead of writing those values over and over, we store them in variables.

This makes your code easier to read, update, and re-use.

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# 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 not only writes correct code, but also keeps it clean and understandable.

Using well-named variables and understanding how types behave will make your work easier to debug, share, and explain.