Literal vs. Variable — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 20, 2024
A literal is a fixed value in code, such as a number or string written directly into the source code. A variable, on the other hand, is a symbol or name that holds a value that can change during the execution of a program.
Difference Between Literal and Variable
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
In programming, literals are explicit values or data included directly in the code. For example, when you write 5, "hello" or 3.14 in your code, these are literals representing specific numbers or a string. Variables, however, act as containers for values; they can store literals, the results of calculations, or the values returned by functions, and these stored values can be modified.
Literals provide a means of inputting data into programs without any ambiguity the value of a literal never changes. In contrast, variables are used to store data that can change as the program runs, or that will only be known once the program is executing. For instance, a user's input or a value fetched from a database can be stored in a variable.
The type of a literal is determined by its format and content such as an integer, floating point number, or string. Variables, on the other hand, may have types explicitly declared by the programmer or inferred by the compiler/interpreter, and they need to be declared before they can be used to store any literal or other value.
Using literals in a program makes it straightforward but less dynamic, as the values are fixed and cannot adjust to different circumstances or user inputs. Variables make programs dynamic and interactive because they allow for the manipulation and transformation of stored data over time.
In programming practices, literals are used when a value is constant and known at the time of coding, such as setting a maximum number of iterations in a loop. Variables are essential when the values they hold need to change, such as counting iterations or accumulating totals in a loop.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A fixed value written directly in the code.
A name or symbol that stores a value that can change.
Mutability
Immutable (cannot change).
Mutable (can change).
Example
100, "example", 3.14
X = 100, name = "example", pi = 3.14
Usage
Used for constants or fixed values.
Used for storing and manipulating data.
Declaration
Not required.
Must be declared before use.
Compare with Definitions
Literal
A value directly written into the source code.
In the statement print(Hello, world!), Hello, world! is a string literal.
Variable
Facilitates operations and transformations on stored data.
TotalCost = quantity * pricePerUnit; uses variables to calculate a total cost.
Literal
Data whose values are fixed and unchangeable in the program.
Return 404 uses 404 as an integer literal.
Variable
A symbolic name representing a location in memory whose content can change.
Int count = 10; declares count as an integer variable initialized with the literal 10.
Literal
Represents exact values in code.
If (temperature < 98.6) uses 98.6 as a floating-point literal.
Variable
Allows a program to work with dynamic and varying data.
UserInput = input(Enter your name: ) stores user-provided data in userInput.
Literal
Can be a part of expressions but does not change.
Total = 5 * 20 uses both 5 and 20 as literals.
Variable
Used to store data that might change during program execution.
Count += 1; shows count being used to keep a running total.
Literal
Used for clarity and simplicity in expressing constants.
CircleArea = 3.14 * radius * radius uses 3.14 as a literal approximation of pi.
Variable
Must be declared with a specific type in strongly typed languages.
Double temperature = 98.6; declares and initializes a floating-point variable.
Literal
Conforming or limited to the simplest, nonfigurative, or most obvious meaning of a word or words.
Variable
Likely to change or vary; subject to variation; changeable.
Literal
Word for word; verbatim
A literal translation.
Variable
Inconstant; fickle.
Literal
Avoiding exaggeration, metaphor, or embellishment; factual; prosaic
A literal description.
A literal mind.
Variable
(Biology) Tending to exhibit genetic variation or variation in a physical trait
Geographically variable color patterns.
Literal
Consisting of, using, or expressed by letters
Literal notation.
Variable
(Mathematics) Having no fixed quantitative value.
Literal
A letter or symbol that stands for itself as opposed to a feature, function, or entity associated with it in a programming language
$ can be a symbol that refers to the end of a line, but as a literal, it is a dollar sign.
Variable
Something that varies or is prone to variation.
Literal
Exactly as stated; read or understood without additional interpretation; according to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical, and etymonic rather than idiomatic.
The literal translation is "hands full of bananas" but it means "empty-handed".
Variable
(Astronomy) A variable star.
Literal
Following the letter or exact words; not free; not taking liberties
A literal reading of the law would prohibit it, but that is clearly not the intent.
Variable
A quantity capable of assuming any of a set of values.
Literal
(theology) (broadly) That which generally assumes that the plainest reading of a given scripture is correct but which allows for metaphor where context indicates it; (specifically) following the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation
Variable
A symbol representing such a quantity. For example, in the expression a2 + b2 = c2, a,b, and c are variables.
Literal
(uncommon) Consisting of, or expressed by, letters (of an alphabet)
A literal equation
Variable
Able to vary or be varied.
Variable winds or seasons; a variable quantity; a variable resistor
Literal
(of a person) Unimaginative; matter-of-fact
Variable
Likely to vary.
Literal
(proscribed) Used non-literally as an intensifier; see literally for usage notes.
Telemarketers are the literal worst.
Variable
Marked by diversity or difference.
Literal
A misprint (or occasionally a scribal error) that affects a letter.
Variable
(mathematics) Having no fixed quantitative value.
Literal
(programming) A value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program.
Variable
(biology) Tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type.
Literal
(logic) A propositional variable or the negation of a propositional variable. Wp
Variable
Something that is variable.
Literal
According to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical; as, the literal meaning of a phrase.
It hath but one simple literal sense whose light the owls can not abide.
Variable
Something whose value may be dictated or discovered.
There are several variables to consider here.
Literal
Following the letter or exact words; not free.
A middle course between the rigor of literal translations and the liberty of paraphrasts.
Variable
(mathematics) A symbol representing a variable.
Literal
Consisting of, or expressed by, letters.
The literal notation of numbers was known to Europeans before the ciphers.
Variable
(programming) A named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read them.
Literal
Giving a strict or literal construction; unimaginative; matter-of-fact; - applied to persons.
Variable
(astronomy) A variable star.
Literal
Literal meaning.
Variable
(nautical) A shifting wind, or one that varies in force.
Literal
A mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures of some kind
Variable
Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts.
Literal
Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something;
Her actual motive
A literal solitude like a desert
A genuine dilemma
Variable
Having the capacity of varying or changing; capable of alternation in any manner; changeable; as, variable winds or seasons; a variable quantity.
Literal
Without interpretation or embellishment;
A literal translation of the scene before him
Variable
Liable to vary; too susceptible of change; mutable; fickle; unsteady; inconstant; as, the affections of men are variable; passions are variable.
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
His heart, I know, how variable and vain!
Literal
Limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text;
A literal translation
Variable
That which is variable; that which varies, or is subject to change.
Literal
Lacking stylistic embellishment;
A literal description
Wrote good but plain prose
A plain unadorned account of the coronation
A forthright unembellished style
Variable
A quantity which may increase or decrease; a quantity which admits of an infinite number of values in the same expression; a variable quantity; as, in the equation x2 - y2 = R2, x and y are variables.
Literal
Of the clearest kind; usually used for emphasis;
It's the literal truth
A matter of investment, pure and simple
Variable
A shifting wind, or one that varies in force.
Literal
(of a translation) corresponding word for word with the original;
Literal translation of the article
An awkward word-for-word translation
Variable
Something that is likely to vary; something that is subject to variation;
The weather is one variable to be considered
Variable
A quantity that can assume any of a set of values
Variable
A star that varies noticeably in brightness
Variable
A symbol (like x or y) that is used in mathematical or logical expressions to represent a variable quantity
Variable
Liable to or capable of change;
Rainfall in the tropics is notoriously variable
Variable winds
Variable expenses
Variable
Marked by diversity or difference;
The varying angles of roof slope
Nature is infinitely variable
Variable
(used of a device) designed so that a property (as e.g. light) can be varied;
A variable capacitor
Variable filters in front of the mercury xenon lights
Common Curiosities
What is a literal in programming?
A literal is a specific data value embedded directly in the source code.
Can the value of a literal change?
No, literals are constant values that do not change.
Why might a programmer choose to use a literal instead of a variable?
A programmer might use a literal for clarity, simplicity, or to optimize performance when the value is constant and known at compile time, such as in configuration settings or fixed formulas.
How do you use variables effectively in programming?
Variables are used to store information that the program might need to change or manipulate, such as user inputs, file data, or temporary calculations.
What happens if you try to change a literal?
Literals cannot be changed. Attempting to assign a new value to a literal would result in a syntax or semantic error in the code.
How do literals and variables interact in a program?
Literals can be assigned to variables or used in expressions with variables to perform calculations or operations.
What is a variable in programming?
A variable is a named storage location in a computer's memory that can hold different values during the runtime of a program.
Can a variable contain a literal?
Yes, a variable can be initialized or assigned a literal value, but the variable itself can change to hold different values.
How do the roles of literals and variables differ in software development?
Literals provide fixed values required for the program to function correctly, such as constants in calculations, while variables provide flexibility by allowing the storage and manipulation of dynamic data.
What is the difference between declaring a variable and using a literal?
Declaring a variable involves specifying its type and associating it with a name for storage, while using a literal involves directly placing a fixed value in the code.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
