# What is Data?

Data is simply information that lives in your application. It determines what your users see and how your app behaves.

## Data Representation

In Digia, data can be represented in two ways:

1. **Static Data**: Hardcoded information that never changes.
   * *Example*: A "Welcome" title text, a fixed background color, or a "Terms of Service" paragraph.
2. **Dynamic Data**: Information that changes based on user interaction, API responses, or time.
   * *Example*: The logged-in user's name, a list of products from a database, or the current toggle state of a switch.

To handle Dynamic Data, we use **Variables**.

## Variables

Think of a variable as a container for value. Instead of typing "John Doe" directly into a Text widget (Static), you bind the Text widget to a variable called `userName`. When the value in the `userName` container changes, the Text widget automatically updates to show the new value.

In Digia, variables are strictly typed. Use the [Data Types](https://docs.digia.tech/data-and-state/data-types) section to understand the different kinds of variables available (Strings, Numbers, JSON, etc.).