Variables

Variables are used to store values with specific data types (e.g., numbers, strings, or booleans) in memory for later use.

Unlike constants, variables can be reassigned after declaration, but its data type must remain the same as it was when first initialized. For example, an int variable can start with a value of 2 and be reassigned to 0 (another int), but it can’t be reassigned as “Codecademy” (a string).

var name type

Variable statements begin with the var keyword, followed by its name, and then the variable type.

Variable names begin with a letter and are case-sensitive. They must not contain special characters, only letters and digits. They must also not be a reserved Go keyword such as if or for.

There are multiple ways to declare a variable. The syntax is similar to other programming languages.

Initializing After Declaring

This way is used if a group of variables is needed but will be assigned values later in the program:

var numbers int
var nameOfProgrammer string
numbers = 100
nameOfProgrammer = "Codecademy Learner"

Initializing With Declaring

This way is used to assign values directly when defining a variable:

var state bool = true
var nameOfProgrammer string = "Codecademy Learner"

Initializing Using Type Inference

This way lets the compiler assign the type for the input without declaring it:

var piNumber = 3.14
var myName = "Abdulrahman"

Fast Initializing

This way skips almost all of the syntax and only needs the name of the variable followed by :=:

dontMove := false

Multiple Variable Initializing

This way is used to declare multiple variables on the same line. Variables are separated with a comma (,):

var numbers, name = 100, "Codecademy User"
user, activeState := "Abdulrahman", true