What is a variable primarily used for in programming?

In programming, a variable is a fundamental concept used to create a space in memory to store data. This allows developers to define a name for a specific value or set of values, which can be referenced and manipulated throughout the program. Variables enable the dynamic handling of data, allowing the content they hold to change during the program’s execution.

This functionality is essential for tasks such as calculations, data manipulation, and managing program states. For example, when you declare a variable to store a user’s score in a game, that score can increase or decrease based on the player's actions and interactions. Thus, the ability of variables to hold values that can change dynamically is a crucial aspect of programming, distinguishing them from constants or fixed values, which do not allow for such flexibility.