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

I prefer the second option, the if (value == false) one. I gladly use if (~value) or if (not value) in languages that support it, but that ! just merges waaaaay too easily either with the variable name or opening braces or | or || operators... at least in my opinion.

Also, two things:

1. I never do if (value == true), and I'm aware I'm inconsistent. And although consistency is very important in my opinion, that pesky ! is simply worse.
2. I think it's really a matter of personal taste, just like the brace-on-a-newline debate. I would never criticize a teammate for silly little things like that, and I have a hard time understanding the people who will.