Programmatically defining variables

Question

I seems as though what I am interested in is unconventional, but I am interested in defining a number of different variables programmatically.

For example I can write a matrix of variables by doing:

Table[Symbol["\[Rho]" <> ToString@i <> ToString@j], {i, 5}, {j, 
   5}] // MatrixForm

But is it impossible for me to assign specific values to them?

Here's one of my attempts that doesn't work:

For[i = 0, i < 3, i++, Symbol["fish" <> ToString@i] = 3]

Answer 1

Clear["Global`*"]

It is much easier to use an indexed variable and use Format to display the variable any way that you want.

For example, to display μ as a subscripted variable

Format[μ[n_]] := Subscript[μ, n]

then

var = Array[μ, 5]

Assigning values is straightforward:

μ[1] = μ[4] = 3;

The result is

var