---
title: 3.11 Logical OR
description: "The logical OR operator `||` combines two conditions. The result is `1` when at least one operand is non-zero. It produces `0` only when both operands are zero. ``` #include int main() { int age = 16; int has_permission =…"
url: "https://edcret.in/docs/c-programming/operators-and-expressions/3-11-logical-or/"
updated: "2026-09-07"
category: C Programming / Operators and Expressions
---

# 3.11 Logical OR

The logical OR operator `||` combines two conditions. The result is `1` when at least one operand is non-zero. It produces `0` only when both operands are zero.

```
#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    int age = 16;
    int has_permission = 1;

    printf("Result: %d\n", age >= 18 || has_permission);

    return 0;
}
```

### Example Output

```
Result: 1
```

### Explanation

The expression:

```
age >= 18 || has_permission
```

contains two operands.

`age >= 18` produces `0` because `age` is `16`. `has_permission` contains the non-zero value `1`.

Since at least one operand is non-zero, the `||` expression produces `1`.

The logical OR operator follows these results:

| Operand 1 | Operand 2 | Result |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `0` | `0` | `0` |
| `0` | non-zero | `1` |
| non-zero | `0` | `1` |
| non-zero | non-zero | `1` |

C uses **short-circuit evaluation** for `||`. If the left operand evaluates to a non-zero value, the right operand is not evaluated because the overall result is already known to be true.