Bit Flags
Bit flags are a programming technique that uses individual bits within an integer (or other data type) to represent boolean states or options, enabling efficient storage and manipulation of multiple flags. This approach leverages bitwise operations (AND, OR, XOR, NOT) to set, clear, toggle, or check the status of each flag, optimizing memory usage and performance in scenarios like configuration settings or state management.
Developers should learn bit flags for low-level programming, embedded systems, or performance-critical applications where memory efficiency and fast operations are essential, such as in game development for entity component systems or in network protocols for packet headers. They are also useful in any domain requiring compact representation of multiple boolean values, like file permissions in Unix systems or feature toggles in software.