Boolean operators

Boolean operators are fundamental elements in computer science and mathematics, specifically in logic and boolean algebra. They are named after George Boole, a 19th-century British mathematician and logician who introduced the concept. Boolean operators are used to create logical statements that can be either true or false.

Definition

Boolean operators are simple words (AND, OR, NOT) used as conjunctions to combine or exclude keywords in a search, resulting in more focused and productive results. This should save time and effort by eliminating inappropriate hits.

Types of Boolean Operators

There are three basic boolean operators: AND, OR, and NOT.

AND

The AND operator matches documents where both terms exist anywhere in the text of a single document. This is equivalent to an intersection using set theory.

OR

The OR operator links two terms and finds a matching document if either of the terms exist in a document. This is equivalent to a union using set theory.

NOT

The NOT operator excludes documents that contain the term after NOT. This is equivalent to a difference using set theory.

Usage in Computer Science

In computer programming, Boolean operators are used in conditional statements to make decisions. They are used to compare variables and control the flow of the program.

Usage in Search Engines

Boolean operators are also used in search engines to refine search results. By using AND, OR, and NOT, users can include or exclude certain words in their search query, making the results more relevant to what they are looking for.

See Also

• Boolean algebra
• Boolean function
• Boolean logic
• Boolean value
• George Boole