assigning values

Use an equal sign to assign values to variables.

i1 : x



o1 = x



o1 : Symbol

i2 : x = "abcde"



o2 = abcde



o2 : String

i3 : x



o3 = abcde



o3 : String

Before assignment, any reference to a variable provides the symbol with that name. After assignment, the assigned value is provided. The variable created is global, in the sense that any code placed elsewhere which contains a reference to a variable called x will refer to the one we just set.