c# - Why use a single variable as a conditional evaluation? -

c# - Why use a single variable as a conditional evaluation? -

in way of understanding conditionals throughout programming, whether if statement, while loop, etc - particular statement checked either true of false.

this how utilize conditionals, come across other people's code containing unusual conditionals there doesn't seem particular evaluation, ordinary variable. example:

sometype avariable = somevalue; if (avariable) { //do }

what evaluating true, or false, in case? if avariable represents bool, straightforward, explicit value isn't bool @ all, , contains null. 1 time again, i'm seeing in every language i've looked @ assuming not language specific.

edit 1: i've been made aware may dependent on language, add together see in c#, , variable in question can either reference type or value type.

edit 2: answers, have summarized below:

(a) language specific whether or not particular non-bool variable may evaluated bool (b) in many cases, if language supports such evaluation, non-zero, non-empty, or non-null value typically evaluates true (c/c++ int's) (c) languages don't back upwards such implicit evaluation, cast bool needs added in class definition, illustration (c#)

as other answers have pointed out, details language-specific. in c# can if avariable bool or has implicit conversion bool (or implements true , false operators).

in unity link, appears base of operations object type has implicit conversion bool returns whether object null e.g.

public class object { public static implicit operator bool(object b) { homecoming b != null; } }

c# variables conditional