Variables
Variables — the Concepts
A 15-step visual story: what a value is, why we name it, types, and how boxes collaborate.
Step 1
Concept
Meet the values
A friendly tour of the five families of things a program can hold — and what programmers call them.
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Step 2
Concept
Values without a home vanish
Howie tries to hold onto a value — it slips through and disappears.
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Step 3
Concept
A box appears — but it has no name
A box drops from the sky. Useful — but unnamed.
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Step 4
Concept
Howie sticks a name-tag on it
Name written, tag attached, box pulses in delight.
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Step 5
Concept
Pick the value, drop it in
Howie carries the value over and lowers it into the box.
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Step 6
Concept
Open it back up — value still there
Time passes. The value patiently waits inside.
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Step 7
Concept
Reading the value
Howie peeks in, takes a copy, reports it back — original untouched.
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Step 8
Concept
Replacing what's inside
Old value floats out, new value drops in. Same box.
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Step 9
Concept
The type stamp
A stamp slams down. The box is now locked to one type.
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Step 10
Concept
Wrong type? Bounces off
Howie tries to put text in a number-box. NOPE.
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Step 11
Concept
Right type? Welcome
Same type as the stamp — drops in smoothly.
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Step 12
Concept
Two more boxes join the scene
score and bonus stand side by side, both ready.
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Step 13
Concept
The × machine — boxes collaborate
Read both, multiply, store the answer in a fresh box.
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Step 14
Concept
All four boxes, glowing
Lined up in a satisfying row.
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Step 15
Concept
Watch it all in one breath
The full ~25-second cinematic recap.
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