var

var
    n 1: a unit of electrical power in an AC circuit equal to the
         power dissipated when 1 volt produces a current of 1 ampere
         [syn: {volt-ampere}, {var}]
    

var
 /veir/, /var/, n.

   Short for variable. Compare {arg}, {param}.
    

variable
var

   <programming> (Sometimes "var" /veir/ or /var/) A named memory
   location in which a program can store intermediate results and
   from which it can read it them.  Each {programming language}
   has different rules about how variables can be named, typed,
   and used.  Typically, a value is "assigned" to a variable in
   an {assignment} statement.  The value is obtained by
   evaluating an expression and then stored in the variable.  For
   example, the assignment

   	x = y + 1

   means "add one to y and store the result in x".  This may look
   like a mathematical equation but the mathematical equality is
   only true in the program until the value of x or y changes.
   Furthermore, statements like

   	x = x + 1

   are common.  This means "add one to x", which only makes sense
   as a state changing operation, not as a mathematical equality.

   The simplest form of variable corresponds to a single-{word}
   of {memory} or a {CPU} {register} and an assignment to a
   {load} or {store} {machine code} operation.

   A variable is usually defined to have a {type}, which never
   changes, and which defines the set of values the variable can
   hold.  A type may specify a single ("atomic") value or a
   collection ("aggregate") of values of the same or different
   types.  A common aggregate type is the {array} - a set of
   values, one of which can be selected by supplying a numerical
   {index}.

   Languages may be {untyped}, {weakly typed}, {strongly typed},
   or some combination.  {Object-oriented programming} languages
   extend this to {object} types or {classes}.

   A variable's {scope} is the region of the program source
   within which it represents a certain thing.  Scoping rules are
   also highly language dependent but most serious languages
   support both {local variables} and {global variables}.
   {Subroutine} and {function} {formal arguments} are special
   variables which are set automatically by the language runtime
   on entry to the subroutine.

   In a {functional programming} language, a variable's value
   never changes and change of state is handled as recursion over
   lists of values.

   (2004-11-16)
    

VAR

   {Value Added Reseller} (or retailer).
    

VAR
       Value-Added Reseller