Variables — assignment and reassignment

x = 5 binds the name x to the int 5. Reassign x = 'hello' rebinds it to a string. Python is dynamically typed.

script.py v3.1

x = 5
print('x =', x, 'type:', type(x).__name__)

x = 'hello'
print('x =', x, 'type:', type(x).__name__)

x = [1, 2, 3]
print('x =', x, 'type:', type(x).__name__)

# Multiple assignment
a, b, c = 1, 2, 3
print('a, b, c =', a, b, c)

# Swap without a temp variable
a, b = b, a
print('after swap: a =', a, 'b =', b)

Python output click Run to execute

Click "Run" to execute the code on the left.
The output will appear here.

🧠 How it works

x = 5 creates an int object 5 in memory and binds the name x to it. x = 'hello' doesn't change the int — it rebinds x to a new str object. This is 'dynamic typing': the type lives on the OBJECT, not the NAME. Multiple assignment: a, b, c = 1, 2, 3 — Python packs the right side into a tuple, unpacks on the left. Swap: a, b = b, a — the right side is evaluated FIRST (as a tuple), then unpacked. No temp variable needed.

✏️ Try these changes

Change x = 5 to x = 5.5
→ type becomes 'float'
Change x = 'hello' to x = True
→ type becomes 'bool'
Add x = None after the list assignment
→ type becomes 'NoneType'
Change a, b, c = 1, 2, 3 to a, b, c = 'abc'
→ a='a', b='b', c='c' — strings are iterable

Next lab →

Loops — for, while, comprehensions