# BOOLEAN

## Syntax

```sql
BOOL, BOOLEAN
```

## Description

These types are synonyms for [TINYINT(1)](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/data-types/numeric-data-types/tinyint). A value of zero is considered false. Non-zero values are considered true.

However, the values `TRUE` and `FALSE` are merely aliases for 1 and 0. See [Boolean Literals](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/sql-language-structure/sql-language-structure-boolean-literals), as well as the [IS operator](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/operators/comparison-operators/is) for testing values against a boolean.

## Examples

```sql
CREATE TABLE boolean_example (
  example BOOLEAN
);
```

```sql
SHOW CREATE TABLE boolean_example\G
```

```
*************************** 1. row ***************************
       Table: boolean_example
Create Table: CREATE TABLE `boolean_example` (
  `example` tinyint(1) DEFAULT NULL
) ENGINE=InnoDB DEFAULT CHARSET=latin1
```

```sql
CREATE TABLE boo (i BOOLEAN);

DESC boo;
+-------+------------+------+-----+---------+-------+
| Field | Type       | Null | Key | Default | Extra |
+-------+------------+------+-----+---------+-------+
| i     | tinyint(1) | YES  |     | NULL    |       |
+-------+------------+------+-----+---------+-------+
```

```sql
SELECT IF(0, 'true', 'false');
+------------------------+
| IF(0, 'true', 'false') |
+------------------------+
| false                  |
+------------------------+

SELECT IF(1, 'true', 'false');
+------------------------+
| IF(1, 'true', 'false') |
+------------------------+
| true                   |
+------------------------+

SELECT IF(2, 'true', 'false');
+------------------------+
| IF(2, 'true', 'false') |
+------------------------+
| true                   |
+------------------------+
```

`TRUE` and `FALSE` as aliases for 1 and 0:

```sql
SELECT IF(0 = FALSE, 'true', 'false');

+--------------------------------+
| IF(0 = FALSE, 'true', 'false') |
+--------------------------------+
| true                           |
+--------------------------------+

SELECT IF(1 = TRUE, 'true', 'false');
+-------------------------------+
| IF(1 = TRUE, 'true', 'false') |
+-------------------------------+
| true                          |
+-------------------------------+

SELECT IF(2 = TRUE, 'true', 'false');
+-------------------------------+
| IF(2 = TRUE, 'true', 'false') |
+-------------------------------+
| false                         |
+-------------------------------+

SELECT IF(2 = FALSE, 'true', 'false');
+--------------------------------+
| IF(2 = FALSE, 'true', 'false') |
+--------------------------------+
| false                          |
+--------------------------------+
```

The last two statements display the results shown because 2 is equal to neither 1 nor 0.

## See Also

* [Boolean Literals](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/sql-language-structure/sql-language-structure-boolean-literals)
* [IS operator](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/operators/comparison-operators/is)

<sub>*This page is licensed: GPLv2, originally from*</sub> [<sub>*fill\_help\_tables.sql*</sub>](https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/main/scripts/fill_help_tables.sql)

{% @marketo/form formId="4316" %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/data-types/numeric-data-types/boolean.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.