what is a boolean

[Jimbo1991]

what exactly is a boolean?

[SNIPERDUDE]

a boolean is a type of variable.

an integer (int) holds a whole number
a real number (real) hold a decimal number
a boolean hold a true/false value.

ex:
var test : boolean := true

[isaiahk9]

Booleans are useful when you only deal with two possible outcomes.
Example -
var isp1right : boolean := true
loop
if player clicks left key, then isp1right := false, p1x -= 5
elsif player clicks right key, then isp1right := true, p1x += 5
end if
Draw (character, p1x, p1y, PicMerge)
end loop

%I used this for my fighter game - so that the character would face right and left when you press right and left.

[Hendo]

yeah they're very useful if you only want to execute something if the variable hold true (or not)

So something like

code:

if boolvar1 = true then x=x+1 else %if its not true x=x-1 %do this instead end if

[Reality Check]

It's simply a variable with only two possible states. This is ideal for checking is a certain event has been reached and whatnot and is more ideal than using any other kind of variable because it'd use less memory.

[Mackie]

Actually a boolean is 8 bits, same as nat1 (Range of 0 - 255).

Surprising enough, I'd think it would only be 1 bit. On or off.

[Tony]

a boolean, as a variable, is indeed 8 bits. If you want to use less memory though, you could use a nat1 as an array of 8 boolean values.

[Mackie]

That is a very smart idea! I'll have to remember that.