Give your data a name

Keep a value for later

A variable starts with $. Assign a value using = and refer to it by name whenever you need it.

$serverCount = 4
$team = 'Operations'

The first value is a number; the second is a string. Types matter: adding two numbers calculates a total, while combining strings joins text.

Two kinds of quotes

Single quotes keep text literal. Double quotes expand variables into their values:

$name = 'Ada'
'Hello, $name'
"Hello, $name"

The first message contains $name. The second says Hello, Ada. To place a calculation or property access inside a double-quoted string, wrap it in $().

$count = 3
"Next count: $($count + 1)"

Use names that explain the data: $serverCount is easier to understand than $x. Variable names are case-insensitive, but consistent spelling makes a script easier to read.