windows - When should BOOL and bool be used in C++?

Question

When should BOOL and bool be used in C++ and why?

I think using bool is cleaner and more portable because it's a built-in type. But BOOL is unavoidable when you interactive with legacy code/C code, or doing inter-op from .NET with C code/Windows API.

So my policy is: Use bool inside C++. Use BOOL when talk to outer world, e.g., export function in windows DLL.

Is there a definitive explanation of when to use one over the other?

Answer 1

If BOOL is some sort of integral type, and it always is, and BOOL is defined so that it works right, the standard conversions will automatically get it right. You can't quite use them interchangeably, but you can get close.

Use BOOL at the interface, where you have to talk to the Win32 API or whatever. Use bool everywhere else.