Boolean in C

The concept of a boolean type is not natively supported as it is in some other programming languages like C++, Java, or Python. However, C uses integers to represent boolean values, where 0 typically represents “false,” and any non-zero value represents “true.” Here’s how boolean logic works in C:

1. False: In C, a condition or expression is considered “false” if its value is 0. For example:

 int isTrue = 0; // Represents false
 if (isTrue) {
     // This code won't be executed
 }

2. True: Any non-zero value is considered “true.” This includes positive integers and negative integers. For example:

 int isTrue = 42; // Represents true
 if (isTrue) {
     // This code will be executed
 }

3. Logical Operators: C provides logical operators to work with boolean expressions. These operators include:

• && (logical AND): Returns true if both operands are true.
• || (logical OR): Returns true if at least one operand is true.
• ! (logical NOT): Negates the value of the operand.

 int a = 10;
 int b = 20;
 if (a > 5 && b < 30) {
     // This code will be executed because both conditions are true
 }

4. Boolean Typedef (Optional): Although C doesn’t have a built-in boolean type, you can create your own boolean typedef for code clarity:

 typedef int bool;
 #define true 1
 #define false 0

 int main() {
     bool isTrue = true;
     if (isTrue) {
         // This code will be executed
     }
     return 0;
 }

This approach improves code readability by using true and false identifiers.

While C lacks a native boolean type, you can effectively use integers to represent boolean values by adhering to the convention that 0 means “false” and non-zero values mean “true.” This approach is widely accepted in C programming.