Python Booleans: True or False

In Python, a Boolean is a data type that represents two values: True or False. They’re especially useful in programming for evaluating conditions and controlling the flow of code.

Boolean Values

What is a Boolean?

A Boolean is simply a value that’s either True or False. In programming, these values are used to check if conditions are met.

Boolean Expressions

A Boolean expression evaluates a condition and returns either True or False. Here are some examples:

print(10 > 9)   # True
print(10 == 9)  # False
print(10 < 9)   # False

Using Booleans in if Statements

We often use Boolean values in if statements to decide what code should run based on whether a condition is True or False.

Example: Checking Conditions with Booleans

a = 200
b = 33

if b > a:
    print("b is greater than a")
else:
    print("b is not greater than a")  # This will print

Evaluating Values with bool()

Python has a built-in bool() function that can convert any value to a Boolean. The result will be True or False based on the value’s content.

Example: Using bool() to Evaluate Values

print(bool("Hello"))  # True
print(bool(15))       # True

Example: Using bool() on Variables

x = "Hello"
y = 15
print(bool(x))  # True
print(bool(y))  # True

Which Values Are True?

Most values in Python evaluate to True. This includes:

• Any non-empty string, like "abc"
• Any non-zero number, like 123
• Any non-empty list, tuple, set, or dictionary

Example: Values That Return True

print(bool("abc"))              # True
print(bool(123))                # True
print(bool(["apple", "cherry"]))  # True

Which Values Are False?

Some values in Python evaluate to False, including:

• Empty values like "", [], , ()
• The number 0
• The value None
• The Boolean False itself

Example: Values That Return False

print(bool(False))   # False
print(bool(None))    # False
print(bool(0))       # False
print(bool(""))      # False
print(bool(()))      # False
print(bool([]))      # False
print(bool({}))      # False

Boolean Functions in Python

You can write functions that return a Boolean value. This is useful for making decisions based on conditions within a function.

Example: Simple Boolean Function

def my_function():
    return True
print(my_function())  # True

You can also use this returned Boolean value in an if statement:

def my_function():
    return True

if my_function():
    print("YES!")  # This will print "YES!" because my_function() returns True
else:
    print("NO!")

Built-in Functions That Return Booleans

Python has many built-in functions that return a Boolean. One of the most commonly used is isinstance(), which checks if an object is of a specific type.

Example: Using isinstance() to Check Data Types

x = 200
print(isinstance(x, int))  # True, because x is an integer

Understanding Booleans is essential in Python, as they’re the basis for making decisions in your code. Try experimenting with different values and conditions to see how they evaluate to True or False!