A variable is basically a name that represents or refers to some value. Assigning a variable in Python is simple. For example, you might want the name w to represent 8. To make it so, simply execute the following:
>>> w = 8
To make x to represent a float:
>>> x = 12.50
To make y to represent a string:
>>> y = 'my new string'
To make z to represent a boolean:
>>> z = True
Python Tutorial: Variables