Which is clearer form: if(!value) or if(flag == value)?

Question

I understand this is a subjective question, so I apologize if it needs to be closed, but I feel like it comes up often enough for me to wonder if there is a general preferen

Answer 1

Dissenting opinion (kind of)

From a compilation standpoint, you're going to get the same IL, so it really only matters from a readability standpoint.

From that standpoint, the if(value == false) is more obvious to a casual reader, and there is less chance of missing the ! before the bool.

Honestly, I use both approaches, and most times, I make it depend on my variable name. If it still sounds ok to say "not" in place of the "bang", I'm likely to use the bang notation

e.g.

if(!gotValue) {}
//if (I've) not gotValue

//but

if(checkValue == false){}
//If (I've) not checkValue doesn't quite work here grammatically.