Logical operators allow you to do more complex checks, rather than checking for a simple equality or inequality. Say, for example, the condition to gain entry into a special room requires the player to have both the red and green keycards. We want to check whether two conditions hold true at the same time. To do this type of complex logic statement checks, there are three additional constructs that we need to learn: the not (!), and (&&), and or (||) operators.
The ! operator is handy to reverse the value of a boolean variable. Take an example of the following code:
bool wearingSocks = true;
if( !wearingSocks ) // same as if( false == wearingSocks )
{cout << "Get some socks on!" << endl;}
else
{
cout << "You already have socks" << endl;
}The if statement here checks whether or not you are wearing socks. Then, you are issued a command to get some socks on. The ! operator reverses the value of whatever is in the boolean variable to be the opposite value.
We use something called a truth table to show all the possible results of using the ! operator on a boolean variable, as follows:
|
wearingSocks |
!wearingSocks |
|---|---|
|
true |
false |
|
false |
true |
So, when wearingSocks has the value true, !wearingSocks has the value false and vice versa.
- What do you think will be the value of
!!wearingSockswhen the value ofwearingSocksis true? - What is the value of
isVisibleafter the following code is run?
bool hidden = true; bool isVisible = !hidden;
- If
wearingSocksis true, then!wearingSocksis false. Therefore,!!wearingSocksbecomes true again. It's like saying I am not not hungry. Not not is a double negative, so this sentence means that I am actually hungry. - The answer to the second question is false.
hiddenwas true, so!hiddenis false. false then gets saved into theisVisiblevariable.
Tip
The ! operator is sometimes colloquially known as bang. The preceding bang bang operation (!!) is a double negative and a double logical inversion. If you bang-bang a bool variable, there is no net change to the variable. If you bang-bang an int variable, it becomes a simple bool variable(true or false). If the int value is greater than zero, it is reduced to a simple true. If the int value is 0 already, it is reduced to a simple false.
Say, we only want to run a section of the code if two conditions are true. For example, we are only dressed if we are wearing both socks and clothes. You can use the following code to checks this:
bool wearingSocks = true;
bool wearingClothes = false;
if( wearingSocks && wearingClothes )// && requires BOTH to be true
{
cout << "You are dressed!" << endl;
}
else
{
cout << "You are not dressed yet" << endl;
}We sometimes want to run a section of the code if either one of the variables is true.
So, for example, say the player wins a certain bonus if he finds either a special star in the level or the time that he takes to complete the level is less than 60 seconds, in which case you can use the following code:
bool foundStar = true;
float levelCompleteTime = 25.f;
float maxTimeForBonus = 60.f;
// || requires EITHER to be true to get in the { below
if( foundStar || levelCompleteTime < maxTimeForBonus )
{
cout << "Bonus awarded!" << endl;
}
else
{
cout << "No bonus." << endl;
}