def METHOD_NAME(self, var_name, time=np.nan):
    """Get the value of a variable.
    Parameters
    ----------
    var_name : string
        The name of the variable to get.
    time : float or int, optional
        The time of the variable to get. The latest time in the record is
        the default.
    Returns
    -------
    T
        The value of `var_name` that has the type, T. `nan` is returned if
        `var_name` does not exist in the record.
    """
    if var_name not in self.variables:
        return np.nan
    time = self._check_time(time)
    idx = self._get_time_index(time)
    return self._dict[var_name][idx]