Should I Use `&&` or `AND` for Conditional Logic in Programming?

Using '&&' vs 'AND' as Operators

In the realm of programming, the choice between using the '&&' and 'AND' operators for conditional evaluations often arises. While both operators serve the same purpose, there are subtle differences that can lead to confusion.

Traditionally, 'AND' and 'OR' have been employed as comparison operators in various programming languages. However, the introduction of '&&' and '||' has gained popularity, especially in newer languages.

In the context of the given question, the primary concern is the potential precedence issue between '&&' and 'AND'. The question highlights that in the PrestaShop framework, precedence does not seem to be a determining factor in the choice between the two operators.

Ultimately, the decision of which operator to use boils down to readability and personal preference. While some programmers find '&&' to be more visually compact and consistent with the concept of boolean logic, others prefer the familiarity and simplicity of 'AND'.

However, it's important to note a potential gotcha with 'AND', as illustrated in the provided example:

$this_one = true;
$that = false;

$truthiness = $this_one and $that;

In this code snippet, the variable $truthiness will surprisingly be set to true. This is because the assignment operator '=' has higher precedence than 'and'. To resolve this issue, parentheses can be used to enforce the order of operations:

$truthiness = ($this_one and $that);

By explicitly specifying the order of operations with parentheses, the expected result of false is achieved. This behavior is not observed when using '&&', making it a safer choice in some situations.

In conclusion, the use of '&&' or 'AND' as operators depends on individual preferences and the specific language or framework being used. However, it's crucial to be aware of potential precedence issues, particularly when using 'AND', to avoid unintentional outcomes.

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