> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.taglo.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.taglo.io/variables/variable-basics.md).
# Variable Basics
## Overview
**Variables** are the items that form the logic of your model. Imagine you're building a forecast budget for your business. Examples of Variables might be: **Total Revenues**; **Number of Employees**; **Office Costs.**
{% hint style="info" %}
If you're used to working in Excel, you can think of Variables as like the lines in your model, but a lot more powerful
{% endhint %}
Variables can reference inputs to the model (called [**Assumptions**](/assumptions/introduction-to-assumptions.md)), or they can reference other Variables, through [**Calculations.**](/calculations/introduction-to-calculations.md)
A Calculation might look something like:
```
Profits = Revenues - Costs
```
In this way, you can link Variables to each other and develop the structure of your model.
The rest of this section explains how to configure Variables and the huge range of ways you can work with them.
## The Variables list view
By default, Variables are shown in a [**Tree View**](/using-taglo-software/the-taglo-interface/list-views.md#view-types), but you can also view them in a flat list, or a grid.
Variable Tree View
In the Tree View, as shown above, the tree represents the relationships between the Variables. In this example, `Revenues by region` references `Revenues by region and membership type`, which in turn has a Calculation of `Gym members * Revenue per member`, hence these two Variables are shown as its children.
Using the Tree View, you can quickly navigate the relationships between Variables to understand and interrogate Calculations.
## The Variables preview
Each Variable in the list can be [**previewed**](/using-taglo-software/the-taglo-interface/previewing-and-editing.md) in detail, as per the example below: