# Variables

Like other language, Liquid stores information in **variables**. There are two Liquid tags that facilitate creating variables: **assign**, and **capture**.

## Assign

The assign tag creates a new variable.

```liquid
{% assign my_name = "Matt" %}

{% assign is_tired = false %}

{% assign favorite_number = 8 %}
```

{% hint style="info" %}
In Mechanic, the assign tag can also create [arrays and hashes](/platform/liquid/basics/variables.md). This isn't possible in other versions of Liquid – this feature is unique to Mechanic.
{% endhint %}

## Capture

The capture tag is a useful tool for creating strings of multiple variables, which is very useful in Mechanic. We use this tag extensively in our task code for capturing GraphQL queries, email bodies, and more.

In the following example, the string is captured into a variable named `query`.

```liquid
{% capture query %}
  query {
    inventoryLevel(id: {{ inventory_level.admin_graphql_api_id | json }}) {
      item {
        variant {
          sku
        }
      }
    }
  }
{% endcapture %}
```


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://learn.mechanic.dev/platform/liquid/basics/variables.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.