A variable is a named container that holds a value in your program's memory. Think of it like a labeled box. You give the box a name, put something inside, and refer to it later by that name.
In Java, you create a variable by specifying its type and name, then assigning a value with the = operator:
int score = 95;
Here, score is the variable name, int is the type (meaning whole number), and 95 is the value stored inside. You can change the value later by reassigning: score = 100;. The type stays the same, but the contents of the box change.