Module 4: Decision Making
Booleans and Conditions
Use boolean values and readable conditions as the foundation for every branching statement in Java.
Author
Java Learner Editorial Team
Reviewer
Technical review by Java Learner
Last reviewed
2026-04-16
Java version
Java 25 LTS
Learning goals
- Understand what a boolean represents
- Write a simple condition that evaluates to true or false
- Read boolean output confidently before using `if` statements
Why this matters: Decisions in Java start with boolean results. Before writing if, you should feel comfortable reading conditions that produce true or false.
A boolean variable: A boolean holds only two values: true or false.
A condition is an expression: When Java evaluates something like score >= 50, the result is a boolean value.
Keep conditions readable: A good condition should sound clear in English, such as "score is at least 50" or "user is logged in."
Runnable examples
Store booleans directly
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
boolean isLoggedIn = true;
boolean isMember = false;
System.out.println(isLoggedIn);
System.out.println(isMember);
}
}Expected output
true false
A condition becomes a boolean
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int score = 72;
boolean passed = score >= 50;
System.out.println(passed);
}
}Expected output
true
Common mistakes
Treating conditions as something different from booleans
A condition is just an expression whose result is `true` or `false`.
Mini exercise
Create a number variable and a boolean named `isPositive` that checks whether the number is greater than 0.
Summary
- Booleans store true/false.
- Conditions evaluate to booleans.
Next step
Now put those conditions inside an `if` statement.
Sources used