Arizona State University (ASU) CSE240 Introduction to Programming Languages Midterm Practice Exam

The term 'variable' signifies a temporary storage location that can change value, which aligns with the provided answer. In programming, variables are fundamental constructs that allow developers to store, modify, and retrieve data. They serve as symbolic names that reference particular memory locations where the data is kept, enabling the program to work with values dynamically.

As values in a program can change as it executes, having a storage location that can adapt to reflect these changes is essential for tasks such as arithmetic operations, user input, or managing state within an application. This flexibility is what makes variables powerful tools in programming, as they allow developers to build more complex and responsive applications.

In contrast, a fixed storage location for constant values denotes constants, which cannot change after they are initialized, and is not applicable to variables. A method for organizing code refers more closely to functions or modules, which encapsulate behavior rather than data storage. Lastly, a data structure for collections of information refers to entities such as arrays, lists, or trees that organize and manage multiple values rather than individual, changeable storage locations.