stdbool.h is a new header file introduced in the C99 revision of the ANSI/ISO C specification. Because C doesn't have a boolean type, programmers were forever defining one, along with constants for true and false. This header file finally provides a standard way of doing this.

It defines three macros:

  • bool which can be used as a type to hold boolean data
  • true, numerically equivalent to 1 and can be stored in variables of bool
  • false, numerically equivalent to 0 and can be stored in variables of bool

It is worth noting that these macros are source compatible with the C++ bool type, which may make moving between the languages easier.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.