What is using powers of two for bitwise OR and AND like this called?

Question

I have a set of variables and I'm doing this:

int a = 1, b = 2, c = 4, d = 8 /* etc. */;
int result = a | c | d;

The point is so I can do something like:

if(result & a) {
    // stuff
}

I know this is common, I just don't know the word for it. Is there a word for this? Is there a word for the result variable?

*Masks* would be one common term – Paul R Feb 14 '11 at 16:51 — Paul R, Feb 14 '11 at 16:51

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 14 '11 at 16:50

1

A bit field would describe what you are creating.

answered Feb 14 '11 at 16:50

Adrian Smith

I. J. Kennedy · Answer 2 · 2011-02-15T01:17:17.963

0

Bit flags, or flags for short. They are also technically bit fields, but a very special case, where each field is just one bit wide.

edited Feb 15 '11 at 01:17

answered Feb 15 '11 at 01:07

I. J. Kennedy

2 Answers2