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== Data Types and Variables == === Data Types === Elixir is a dynamically-typed programming language, which means variables can hold different types of data at runtime. Elixir provides a rich set of built-in data types for different purposes. Some of the commonly used data types in Elixir include: ==== Numeric Types ==== * [[Integer]] * [[Float]] * [[Decimal]] * [[Complex]] * [[Rational]] ==== Boolean Type ==== * [[Boolean]] ==== Atom Type ==== * [[Atom]] ==== String Type ==== * [[String]] ==== List Type ==== * [[List]] ==== Tuple Type ==== * [[Tuple]] ==== Map Type ==== * [[Map]] ==== Function Type ==== * [[Function]] ==== Struct Type ==== * [[Struct]] ==== Bit String Type ==== * [[Bit String]] ==== PID (Process Identifier) Type ==== * [[PID]] === Variables === In Elixir, variables are dynamically bound to values, allowing them to be reassigned and hold different types of data. Variable names in Elixir must start with a lowercase letter or an underscore (_). They can contain lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers, and underscores. Here's an example of variable assignment: ```elixir x = 42 ``` Variables can also be pattern-matched to extract values from other data structures, such as tuples and maps, or to assign multiple variables simultaneously: ```elixir {a, b} = {1, 2} ``` Multiple assignments can also be done using the pin operator (^) to keep a variable's current value: ```elixir x = 1 ^x = 2 ``` When a variable is redefined within a more nested scope, it creates a new binding that shadows the outer binding: ```elixir x = 1 if true do x = 2 end IO.puts(x) ``` === Constants === Constants in Elixir are defined using the `defconst` macro or `@` module attribute. They are typically used to hold values that should not be changed throughout the program execution: ```elixir defmodule Math do @pi 3.1415 defcalculation(radius) do @pi * radius * radius end end ``` In the example above, `@pi` is a constant that can be accessed within the module. === Type Inference === Elixir employs type inference, which means that the compiler can automatically determine the data type of a variable based on its usage: ```elixir x = 42 ``` In the above code, the compiler infers that `x` is an integer based on the assigned value. Elixir also provides type specifications using the `@type` module attribute, allowing developers to give explicit type information for better code documentation and tooling support: ```elixir @type name :: String.t ``` === Conclusion === Understanding data types and variables is crucial for writing efficient and reliable Elixir programs. Elixir's flexibility in handling different data types and its support for variables make it a powerful language for various applications. {{Languages|Elixir}} {{Software development}} {{Programming languages}}
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