Variable roles

fixed value

A variable initialised without any calculation and not changed thereafter - for example the number of array elements in use.  

stepper

A variable stepping through a systematic, predictable succession of values - for example a counter in a loop

most recent holder

A variable holding the most recent value encountered when stepping through a sequence of unpredictable values

most wanted holder

A variable holding the most appropriate or significant value encountered when stepping through a sequence.

gatherer

A variable accumulating the effect of individual values, for example a running total.

transformation

A variable that always gets its value as a result of a fixed calculation from other variables - for example the result of a conversion function

follower

A variable that gets its value from the old value of some other variable, for example the previous position of the mouse.

temporary

A variable which holds a value for a short time and is then disposed of, for example holding a value during the swapping of two other variables.