9.3 Variable Assignment

9.3.1 Synopsis

variable_name = expression;
variable_name_1 = variable_name_2 = expression;

9.3.2 Description

With the former syntax, if no variable called variable_name exists it is created and expression is stored within. If a variable with the same name already exists, its value is replaced by expression. The second form is similar, but allows to define and assign a number of variables in a single statement.

Expression can be any valid expression:

• variable_name = "string";

• variable_name = other_variable;

• variable_name = other_variable_1 + other_variable_2;

• variable_name_1 = ... = variable_name_n = "string";

• variable_name_1 = ... = variable_name_n = other_variable;

9.3.3 Example

quote1 = "Wild animals never kill for sport.";
quote2 = quote1;
quote3 = quote4 = quote1;

The first line creates a variable called quote1 whose value is "Wild animals never kill for sport.". Then, we define other variables and assign them the same value. These are the variables and their values:

Now, let's replace the last three variables' values with new ones:

quote2 = "Man is the only one to whom the torture and death";
quote3 = "of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself.";
quote4 = "-- Froude";

These are the variables and their new values: