Technology Fundamentals
Boolean
Definition
A Boolean is a data type that has one of two possible values, typically denoted as true or false. It is named after George Boole, who first defined an algebraic system of logic in the mid-19th century.
Why It Matters
Boolean logic is fundamental to all programming. It allows a program to make decisions and control its flow based on whether a certain condition is true or false.
Contextual Example
In a login form, the code might check `if (password_is_correct)` where `password_is_correct` is a Boolean variable. If it's `true`, the user is logged in; if `false`, an error message is shown.
Common Misunderstandings
- In many programming languages, the values 1 and 0 can be treated as true and false, respectively.
- Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT are used to combine or invert Boolean values to create more complex logical expressions.