Is there an easy way to convert a boolean value to a numeric value?

The boolean values are either true or false, and I want it to return either 1 or 0, respectively.

Im using an if statement right now, but Im wondering if there is a simpler way?

Like this:
var b = true;
var x= b?1:0;

ok, thanks. Im now using

code:

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myVar = myVar?1:0;

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code:

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var myNumber = parseInt(myBoolean);

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I believe Math.abs(<boolean>) also does that.

quote:

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Originally posted by phalanxii
I believe Math.abs(<boolean>) also does that.

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As a matter of fact, null is not a Boolean data type, but its own special 'null' data type.

According to MSDN:

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Whereas the string and number data types can have a virtually unlimited number of different values, the Boolean data type can only have two. They are the literals true and false.

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If the only reason you are doing this is to pass to a WinAPI or DLL function, just pass the boolean and it will be converted automatically by Plus. Otherwise, just use parseInt, multiply by one, or an inline if statement (b?1:0).

parseInt does not work for Booleans. It only works for strings. Passing a Boolean into it will result in NaN (not a number). Just do a simple debug trace and you will see.

Personally I would use an inline if statement, as the other methods could potentially give you a -1 as your number.

You could even make it a function of the boolean object (but this is sort of overkill):

code:

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Boolean.prototype.toInt = function () { return this ? 1 : 0; }

// to use it, just call the toInt member of a boolean object
function doSomethingWithBooleans() {
var bMyBoolean = true;
var nBoolAsInteger = bMyBoolean.toInt();
}

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quote:

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Originally posted by markee

quote:

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Originally posted by phalanxii
I believe Math.abs(<boolean>) also does that.

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This will give the absolute value of the number which is not what you want.  Boolean expressions are equivalent to 1 for true, 0 for null and -1 for false and thus you would have a problem where you couldn't tell the difference between true and false.  Even Spunky's code is incorrect because it misses the null possibility and false should be negate one not zero.  The proper methods would be either to use the parseInt method or multiply the boolean variable by 1 (or minus zero).  This is also the same when you try to convert a string to a number.

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Hmm, this has turned into quite a discussion. To clarify what I was using this for, I have decided to make a GUI for my script, and I am using a few checkboxes. Of course, they have a true or false value, and I wanted to pass the values as numeric so that they would work with the existing scripting I had already done.  As I stated before, this now works using the code SpunkyLoveMuff provided

code:

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myVar = myVar?1:0;

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There is no need to actual convert between boolean and integer from what I can see... You can even set the checkboxes useing 1 or 0 instead of true or false

quote:

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Originally posted by markee

quote:

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Originally posted by phalanxii
I believe Math.abs(<boolean>) also does that.

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This will give the absolute value of the number which is not what you want.  Boolean expressions are equivalent to 1 for true, 0 for null and -1 for false and thus you would have a problem where you couldn't tell the difference between true and false.  Even Spunky's code is incorrect because it misses the null possibility and false should be negate one not zero.  The proper methods would be either to use the parseInt method or multiply the boolean variable by 1 (or minus zero).  This is also the same when you try to convert a string to a number.

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code:

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Math.abs(true) == 1
Math.abs(false) == 0
Math.abs(null) == 0
Math.abs(undefined) == NaN

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Why do you all make it so difficult? Multiplying a boolean with 1 won't cause any troubles and is the easiest method to use!

It simply depends on your preference. I just like the multiplying method, but the other ways will do just the same. It's up to you!

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Originally posted by -dt-

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Originally posted by markee

quote:

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Originally posted by phalanxii
I believe Math.abs(<boolean>) also does that.

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This will give the absolute value of the number which is not what you want.  Boolean expressions are equivalent to 1 for true, 0 for null and -1 for false and thus you would have a problem where you couldn't tell the difference between true and false.  Even Spunky's code is incorrect because it misses the null possibility and false should be negate one not zero.  The proper methods would be either to use the parseInt method or multiply the boolean variable by 1 (or minus zero).  This is also the same when you try to convert a string to a number.

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er what boolean is either 1 (true) OR 0 (false) theres no -1, its its null its not a boolean, its null

Math.abs does exactly what he wants

code:

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Math.abs(true) == 1
Math.abs(false) == 0
Math.abs(null) == 0
Math.abs(undefined) == NaN

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i've never seen null in any boolean anywhere

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Originally posted by Voldemort
i've never seen null in any boolean anywhere

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Originally posted by Google
A logical truth value. The two possible Boolean values are true and false .

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Originally posted by Google
A null value tells you the value for that row is either missing, unknown, not yet know or inapplicable.

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