How do you convert your bool to a bit (1 or 0) value?
I’ve often seen code that tries to get a numeric bit (1, 0) value for a boolean.
I know of three ways you can do it:
- Manual condition checking
- Use the GetHashCode() method
- Use the built in .Net Convert class
All three approaches do the job however I find that using the Convert.ToByte(boolValue) makes the most sense from a readability stance.
The following examples mix it up a bit and accommodate a Nullable<bool>.
Let’s start with the scenario where true is 1 and false and null are 0.
bool? tVal = true;
bool? fVal = false;
bool? nVal = null;
// true = 1, false = 0, null = 0
Assert.AreEqual(1, tVal.HasValue && tVal.Value ? 1 : 0);
Assert.AreEqual(0, fVal.HasValue && fVal.Value ? 1 : 0);
Assert.AreEqual(0, nVal.HasValue && nVal.Value ? 1 : 0);
Assert.AreEqual(1, tVal.GetHashCode());
Assert.AreEqual(0, fVal.GetHashCode());
Assert.AreEqual(0, nVal.GetHashCode());
Assert.AreEqual(1, Convert.ToByte(tVal));
Assert.AreEqual(0, Convert.ToByte(fVal));
Assert.AreEqual(0, Convert.ToByte(nVal));
Now let’s mix it up a bit and say that a null value should represent a TRUE or 1 value by default.
i.e. true = 1, null = 1, false = 0,
bool? tVal = true;
bool? fVal = false;
bool? nVal = null;
Assert.AreEqual(1, !tVal.HasValue || tVal.Value ? 1 : 0);
Assert.AreEqual(0, !fVal.HasValue || fVal.Value ? 1 : 0);
Assert.AreEqual(1, !nVal.HasValue || nVal.Value ? 1 : 0);
Assert.AreEqual(1, (tVal ?? true).GetHashCode());
Assert.AreEqual(0, (fVal ?? true).GetHashCode());
Assert.AreEqual(1, (nVal ?? true).GetHashCode());
Assert.AreEqual(1, Convert.ToByte(tVal ?? true));
Assert.AreEqual(0, Convert.ToByte(fVal ?? true));
Assert.AreEqual(1, Convert.ToByte(nVal ?? true));
Is there an easier, better or another alternate way to do this?
I’d love to hear your thoughts?
It depends on why you’re doing the conversion.
If it’s simply to pass in to a byte field in the database, you can just pass it as a boolean and let the framework handle the conversion for you. Not sure how this works with a nullable bool and a NULL DB field, though…
But in general I think I’d go with the Convert.ToByte as well; that’s my usual fallback when there is no implicit (/explicit) cast operator defined.
Quite correct young man when dealing with a DB, however this scenario was not the impetus for such an article.
byte /*or int*/ v = 1;
bool b = Convert.ToBoolean(v);
Here’s something I use-
bool boolvariable = args.Length > 0 ? int.TryParse(args[0], out outnum) ? Convert.ToBoolean(Convert.ToByte(args[0])) : Convert.ToBoolean(args[0]) : true;
its good but can you tell me in asp.net code