Setting a boolean value based on an integer.

Question

I found this statement is some old code and it took me a second to figure out...

IsTestActive = (TestStateID == 1 ? true : false);

Please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this the same as this one?:

IsTestActive = (TestStateID == 1);

If it is, why would you ever want to use the first? Which one is more readable? (I think the latter, but I'd like to see what others think.)

Answer 1

Yes, it is exactly the same.

Yes, the latter is more readable.

Answer 2

No, there's no practical reason for using the first version, world isn't perfect, and neither are programmers.

Answer 3

I must admit I'd never seen nor used the latter one, only the former. But thanks for the learning tip!

Answer 4

IsTestActive = (TestStateID == 1);

is definitely more readable.

You could make a case for defining a constant

ACTIVE = 1

then replacing the boolean variable IsTestActive with

(TestStateID == ACTIVE)

The way the code is now, the state of the boolean IsTestActive will be erroneous if the state of TestStateID changes without updating the boolean. Bypassing the boolean and testing the real source of the information you're after will remove the possibility of this error.

Answer 5

Readability depends on where you use this construct. I often find something like

(TestStateID == 1 ? true : false)

more readable.

Answer 6

Well, I don't know about other languages, but in PHP it's even more easy, using type-casting:

$IsTestActive = (boolean)$TestStateId;