A variable is something referred to by a reference, such as int age (an integer named age). You can set a variable's value and reset it if the variable is not declared to be final. Declaring a final variable daysInAWeek = 7 makes for clearer code than just using the numer 7. A variable can be a primitive or an object reference.
Member data is/are variable(s) that belong to an object. A cat object for instance could have member data such as a
string color and int age. Each cat object can then store, maintain and provide upon request its own information regarding its color and age.
See also Cup Size, a story about variables:
http://www.javaranch.com/campfire/StoryCups.jsp
