0:00:04.069,0:00:10.110 A variable is a container you can store a[br]value in. When you use that variable in an 0:00:10.110,0:00:16.180 algorithm, it opens up the container and looks[br]at the value inside. This lets you write smarter 0:00:16.180,0:00:21.590 algorithms that behave differently depending[br]on the value stored in the variable. For example, 0:00:21.590,0:00:27.470 if you wanted to write an algorithm to say[br]Happy birthday, you're turning 10! to my little 0:00:27.470,0:00:32.830 brother, that's great now but when I run it[br]next year I'd want it to say, Happy birthday, 0:00:32.830,0:00:39.250 you're turning 11! I could create a variable[br]called age to store my brother's age and write 0:00:39.250,0:00:44.949 my algorithm to say Happy birthday, you're[br]turning 'age' instead. Because variable can 0:00:44.949,0:00:52.620 change, every year I can update the variable[br]'age' to equal 'age' plus 1. In this puzzle, 0:00:52.620,0:00:57.030 we're going to be using a variable that will[br]set the length of the line our artist draws. 0:00:57.030,0:01:02.809 Later on in our code, the move forward block[br]will look at that length variable to see what 0:01:02.809,0:01:04.140 value you've set it to.