JavaScript ToBoolean Operation Tutorial

In this section, we will learn what the ToBoolean operation is and how it works in JavaScript.

What is ToBoolean Operation in JavaScript?

In places where we need a value of type `Boolean` but the involved value is a non-Boolean type, the JavaScript engine will use the `ToBoolean` operation to coerce the target value into a `Boolean` type.

For example, in the parentheses of the `if` condition, we need either a value `false` or `true` or an expression that results in these values. So if we put a value of type String or a value of type Number, then the engine will invoke the `ToBoolean` operation on the target value.

The work of the operation `ToBoolean` is simple. Basically in the operation, the execution engine will check a table that is called Falsy-Table. If the target value was one of the items in that table, the execution engine will replace the target value with the value `false`. But if the target value was not in the `Falsy-Table` then it will be replaced with the value `true`.

List of Primitive Values and the Result of Applying ToBoolean Operation

Here’s the Falsy-table:

Falsy-Table
“”
0, -0
null
NaN
false
undefined

We call values in the table above a falsy-table, because if the execution engine sees any of these values in an operation where a boolean value was needed, it will automatically replace the value with the boolean value `false`.

Now any value that is not in this table will be considered as a `true` value.

Example: converting Number to Boolean in JavaScript

if (10){
  console.log("The body is executed");
}

Output:

The body is executed

Take a look at the condition of the `if` statement:

if (10){}

Is the value 10 in the Falsy-Table? No!

So because this value is not in the table, then the result is true and the body of this `if` statement runs.

From the execution engine’s perspective: the value in the condition is a non-Boolean value. So the engine will run the `ToBoolean` operation on that value and check the table then. Now because in the table there’s no value `10`, the engine will replace this value with the value `true`.

Example: converting String to Boolean in JavaScript

const empty = "";
if (empty){
  console.log("The body is executed");
}

Output:

Here, the condition of the `if` statement is an empty string. Basically, it’s a non-Boolean value. So the execution engine will run the `ToBoolean` operation and look up into the `Falsy-Table`. Now, because this empty string is one of the items on the table, the engine will replace the value with the value `false`.

The final result of the condition in the `if` statement is `false` and so its body is skipped.

Example: converting Object to Boolean in JavaScript

const obj = {}
if (obj){
  console.log("An empty object is equal to true!");
}else{
  console.log("An empty object is equal to false!");
}

Output:

An empty object is equal to true
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