Why do we use 0 and 1 to represent Boolean values in SQL

EvansEvans
1 min read

In SQL, Boolean values (True or False) are typically represented using 1 for True and 0 for False. Let’s look more into how this works:

  • Many SQL databases don’t have a native Boolean type (especially older Dbs), so they use integers to represent Boolean values:

  • 1 = True

  • 0 = False

Here are some reasons why

  • Computers use binary (0s and 1s), so it’s normal to represent Boolean values this way.

  • Works across databases like MySQL, SQLite, and older systems without a native BOOLEAN type.

  • Using TINYINT(1) in databases such as MySQL is space-efficient and offers fast evaluation performance.

Example

SELECT * FROM soul WHERE is_useful= 1;

Final Say
In SQL, 1 represents True and 0 represents False. This is a simple concept that’s rooted in binary logic, but useful for writing clear and effective SQL queries. Cheers🎯

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Evans
Evans

Full-stack Web Developer Python+Django||React