Printing Variables

Part of the Fundamentals section of Coddy's Lua journey — lesson 27 of 90.

The values stored in variables. When you pass a variable name to print(), it outputs whatever value is currently stored in that variable.

Here's how to print a variable's value:

playerName = "Alex"
print(playerName)  -- Output: Alex

score = 150
print(score)       -- Output: 150

Notice that when printing variables, you don't use quotes around the variable name. The print() function automatically retrieves the current value from the variable and displays it. This works with any data type - strings, numbers, booleans, or even nil.

isReady = true
print(isReady)     -- Output: true

emptyValue = nil
print(emptyValue)  -- Output: nil

Challenge

Easy

Create a variable called characterName and assign it the value "Warrior". Create another variable called currentLevel and assign it the value 12. Print both variables to display the character's name and level.

Cheat sheet

To print a variable's value, pass the variable name to print() without quotes:

playerName = "Alex"
print(playerName)  -- Output: Alex

score = 150
print(score)       -- Output: 150

This works with any data type:

isReady = true
print(isReady)     -- Output: true

emptyValue = nil
print(emptyValue)  -- Output: nil

Try it yourself

-- TODO: Write your code here

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Fundamentals

1Introduction

The Language Hello World!Comments

4Operators 2 Relational & Logic

Equality Operators Relational Operators The 'and' Operator The 'or' Operator The 'not' Operator Short-Circuit Evaluation Truthy and Falsy Values Recap - Simple Logic

7Basic Conditional Logic

The if-then Statement The if-then-else Statement The elseif Statement Recap - Treasure Chest

10Tables Part 1: List-Style

What is a Table?Creating a Table Accessing Elements by Index Modifying Elements by Index The Length Operator '#'table.insert()table.remove()Recap - Manage Party Members

13Project: Simple Potion Shop

Project Setup Adding a Potion

Displaying the Inventory

Calculating Total Stock Value

Finding a Specific Potion

Selling a Potion

2Variables and Data Types

What is a Variable?Numbers Strings Booleans The Value 'nil'The type() Function Naming Conventions Recap - Character Profile

5Basic Output

Printing LiteralsPrinting VariablesPrinting Multiple Values Combining Strings & Variables The tostring() Function Input Cast Recap - Status Report Recap - Till 120

8String Manipulation Basics

string.len()string.upper & string.lower string.sub()string.rep()string.find()Recap - Format Username

11Tables 2: Dictionary-Style

Key-Value Pairs Creating Dictionary-Style Tabl Accessing - Bracket Notation Accessing with Dot Notation Adding and Modifying Pairs Removing Pairs with nil Recap - Item Properties

14Variable Scope

Global Variables Local Variables Why Use Local Variables?Scope and Blocks Recap - Scope Puzzle

3Operators 1 Arithmetic & Conc

Arithmetic Operators Modulo Operator Exponentiation Operator String Concatenation Operator Precedence Recap - Simple Calculations

6Project: Character Stats Disp

Welcome Message Declare Character Stats

Display Basic Stats

Add a Boolean Flag

Final Summary

9Functions Basics

Declaring a Function Calling a Function Functions with Parameters Functions with Multiple Params The 'return' Statement Recap - Area Calculator

12Loops Basics

The while Loop The repeat-until Loop The Numeric for Loop for Loop with a Step The 'break' Statement Recap - Countdown

15Final Challenges

Recap - Player Turn Recap - Simple Database Recap - Sum of Even Numbers