Bitmasking

Bitmasking is a method used in programming to efficiently store and manage multiple boolean (true/false) options within a single number. Each bit (0 or 1) in the number represents a specific setting or flag. By using bitmasks—predefined values with a single bit set—you can check, set, or clear individual options quickly without using separate variables. This approach conserves memory and improves performance, especially when handling many flags or settings, by allowing multiple boolean states to be combined and manipulated through bitwise operations.