What does a variable represent in programming?

In programming, a variable represents a symbolic name for a memory location. This means that a variable serves as a container that allows programmers to store data and refer to it by name, rather than by its memory address. This abstraction simplifies the process of handling data, as developers can use descriptive names for variables that indicate their purpose or function within the program. For example, naming a variable "totalScore" clearly indicates it holds the total score in a game, making the code more readable and maintainable.

Proper use of variables is foundational in programming because it allows for dynamic data handling—variables can hold different values throughout the execution of a program, making them versatile and essential for tasks involving decision-making, calculations, and data manipulation.