A variable is an essential element of any programming language, and it is used to store and represent a certain value that can be changed or manipulated as the program runs. A variable can be thought of as a “placeholder” for a particular value, and can be used to store any kind of data. Variables can be of various types, including strings, integers, floats, characters, and booleans.

The most common way to define a variable is by assigning it a name, followed by an “=” sign, followed by the value to assign to it. For example:

int age = 21;

String name = “James";

boolean isHappy = true;

In the example above, “age” is the name of the variable, “21” is the value it has been assigned, “name” is the name of the variable, “James” is the value it has been assigned, and “isHappy” is the name of the variable, “true” is the value it has been assigned.

Variables are also used in calculations and expressions. For example, if you wanted to calculate the area of a triangle you could do so by using the formula:

int area = (base * height) / 2;

In this example, “base” and “height” are the names of the variables, and they are being assigned values in order to calculate the area.

As you can see, variables are an integral part of any programming language, and understanding how to use them is key to becoming a successful programmer. Knowing which of the following statements represents the definition of a variable is essential to mastering this concept.