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