How Computers Store Data

Before we can understand variables, we need to understand memory. Your computer has two main types of storage: When you run a Python program, it uses RAM to store all the data it needs. Think of RAM as a massive grid of tiny storage slots, each with a unique address (like a house number on a street). Each slot can hold a small piece of data. When you create a variable in Python, you're essentially telling the computer: "Reserve some of these memory slots for me, and let me refer to them by this name." Memory and variables are the foundation of every program you will ever write. Every piece of data your program works with lives in a named memory slot.