What are the basic Boolean operators used in computing?

The basic Boolean operators used in computing are AND, OR, NOT, XOR (exclusive OR), and NAND (NOT AND).

Boolean operators are fundamental to computing and are used to create logical statements that can be evaluated as either true or false. They are named after George Boole, a 19th-century British mathematician who developed the concept of Boolean algebra.

The AND operator returns true if both operands (the values being compared) are true. For example, in the statement "if it is raining AND I have an umbrella, then I will not get wet", both conditions must be true for the overall statement to be true.

The OR operator returns true if at least one of the operands is true. In the statement "if it is raining OR I have forgotten my umbrella, then I will get wet", only one of the conditions needs to be true for the overall statement to be true.

The NOT operator inverts the value of its operand. If the operand is true, the NOT operator will return false, and vice versa. For example, in the statement "if it is NOT raining, then I will not get wet", the overall statement is true if the condition "it is raining" is false.

The XOR (exclusive OR) operator returns true if exactly one of the operands is true. In the statement "if I press the switch XOR the light is on, then the light will turn off", the overall statement is true if exactly one of the conditions is true.

The NAND (NOT AND) operator is a combination of the AND and NOT operators. It returns true unless both operands are true. In the statement "if it is not the case that it is raining AND I have forgotten my umbrella, then I will not get wet", the overall statement is true unless both conditions are true.

These Boolean operators are used in a wide range of computing applications, from simple decision-making in programming, to complex logic circuits in hardware design. Understanding how they work is fundamental to understanding how computers process information.