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Why are bools sometimes referred to as "flags"? Is it just a metaphor or is there some historical reason behind it?
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Concept: Boolean Flags Boolean values are regularly used to help maintain the state of a given piece of code. It is common to describe boolean variables as “boolean flags” - these often are used to turn on and off different behaviors that might be useful.
Flags tend to be code smells that, like a lot of technical debt, start out small and innocuous but then grow over time. They add conditional complexity at the expense of simplicity and clarity.
Flag variable is used as a signal in programming to let the program know that a certain condition has met. It usually acts as a boolean variable indicating a condition to be either true or false.
You can create boolean flags in your code using the static API. A container class is required, and you define your flag inside the container class. In the following examples, a container class and a boolean flag are defined. The flag name, videoChat, is derived from the flag variable name.
Flags are an ancient way to convey information. A flag, if we ignore lowering it to half-mast, has only two states - raised or not raised. E.g., consider a white flag - raising it means surrendering. Not raising it, the default state, means that you are not surrendering.
A boolean variable, like a flag, only has two states - true and false.
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