When should I use this kind of int variables?

Question

Some int variables in java.awt.Event class is set by bitwise. Like below:

/**
 * This flag indicates that the Shift key was down when the ev         


        

Answer 1

Why do this? As pointed out in the other answers, the values are powers of two and you are thereby setting a bit. Suppose you wanted to test for a combination of conditions.

You could then combine bits like for example,

SOME_COMBO_CONDITION = SHIFT_MASK | ALT_MASK

and then test for that condition by testing if both bits are set by doing

current_condition & SOME_COMBO_CONDITION

Using integer codes you'd have to test using a more complex conditional.