Q:

C++ meaning |= and &=

I have a part of code that contains the following functions:
void Keyboard(int key)
{
    switch (key) {
    case GLFW_KEY_A: m_controlState |= TDC_LEFT; break;
    case GLFW_KEY_D: m_controlState |= TDC_RIGHT; break;
    case GLFW_KEY_W: m_controlState |= TDC_UP; break;
    case GLFW_KEY_S: m_controlState |= TDC_DOWN; break;
    default: Test::Keyboard(key);
    }
}

void KeyboardUp( int key)
{
    switch (key) {
    case GLFW_KEY_A: m_controlState &= ~TDC_LEFT; break;
    case GLFW_KEY_D: m_controlState &= ~TDC_RIGHT; break;
    case GLFW_KEY_W: m_controlState &= ~TDC_UP; break;
    case GLFW_KEY_S: m_controlState &= ~TDC_DOWN; break;
    default: Test::Keyboard(key);
    }
}

I know what a switch case is but i dont understand what these parts do.
m_controlState |= TDC_LEFT
m_controlState &= ~TDC_LEFT

m_controlState is an int. The GFLW_KEY's also refere to an int value.
Could someone explain what these parts do an example with input values and results would be nice.

A:

&= |= operators in a sense are similar to +=/-= (i.e. a &= b is equivalent to a = a & b). But, they do binary operations. & is doing bitwise and operation, while | is doing bitwise or operation.
Example:
a = 1101
b = 1011
a & b = 1001
a | b = 1111

A:

Also I think it should be explained what these operators do and are used this way.
m_controlState serves as flags, which means it contains in binary form which of the keys are pressed.
For example if the values of tds constants are chosed like this:
TDS_LEFT             = 0x00001
TDS_RIGH = 0x01 << 2 = 0x00010 
TDS_UP   = 0x01 << 3 = 0x00100
TDS_DOWN = 0x01 << 4 = 0x01000

Then in single integer you can store information which options are set. To do that you just have to check if bit that corresponds on each setting is 1 or 0.
So to set TDS_LEFT option, you have to OR the current state with 0x00001( which is TDS_LEFT), so in code
m_controlState = m_controlState | TDS_LEFT

which is the same as
m_controlState |= TDS_LEFT.

To unset TDS_LEFT option you have to AND it with ~TDS_LEFT. So
m_controlState = m_controlState & ~TDS_LEFT

which is the same as:
m_controlState &= ~TDS_LEFT

You can also check: How to use enums as flags in C++?.
Hope that makes it clearer.

