Variable Reassignment

Code Examples

Example 1

Simple Reassignment. Initially, score refers to the value 85. After reassignment, score refers to the new value 92. The original value 85 is no longer accessible through this variable.

score = 85
print(score)  # 85

# Later in the program...
score = 92
print(score)  # 92

Example 2

Changing data types. Python allows changing a variable's type through reassignment. First, value holds an integer. After reassignment, it holds a string. This flexibility is due to Python's dynamic typing.

value = 10
print(value, type(value))  # 10 <class 'int'>

value = "hello"
print(value, type(value))  # hello <class 'str'>

Example 3

Incrementing a counter. Reads the current value, applies the operation, then reassigns. The += operator is shorthand for "add and reassign". Similar shorthand exists for other operations: -=, *=, /=, etc.

counter = 0

# Increase the counter
counter = counter + 1  # counter is now 1

# Increment again using shorthand
counter += 1  # counter is now 2

Example 4

Swapping values between variables. The Python way creates a temporary tuple (b, a) and unpacks it. No need for a temporary variable. Clean and readable approach unique to Python.

# Traditional way (using a temporary variable)
x = 5
y = 10

temp = x
x = y
y = temp

print(x, y)  # 10 5

# Python's elegant way
a = 15
b = 25

a, b = b, a

print(a, b)  # 25 15