This introduction covers The Storage Boxes within Variables & Constants for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Variables & Constants in Programming for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 10 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 2 of 6 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 2 of 6
Practice
15 questions
Recall
10 flashcards
The Storage Boxes
Think of computer memory as a warehouse full of boxes. A variable is a labelled box where you can store data - and change what's inside whenever you want. The label (name) stays the same, but contents can change: "score = 10" then later "score = 15". A constant is a sealed box - once you put something in, it can never change. Use constants for things like PI = 3.14159 or VAT_RATE = 0.20.