False (untrue)

In logic and computing

In formal logic and computer science, false is one of the basic truth values used to evaluate propositions and control flow. Classical (two-valued) logic treats truth and falsity as complementary values. Common symbolic notations for false include ⊥, F, and 0. In programming languages a boolean value false typically selects alternate branches in conditional statements and is distinguished from true.

Types and causes of falsehood

• Errors: mistaken beliefs or incorrect inferences made without intent.
• Lies: assertions known to be untrue that are stated to mislead.
• Misinformation: false content shared without intent to deceive.
• Faulty models or measurements: technical or methodological problems producing false results.

History and philosophical context

Philosophers and logicians have long analyzed what it means for a statement to be false and how falsity relates to truth, meaning and reference. Debates include whether falsity presupposes an objective reality and how linguistic meaning connects to facts. Some modern systems extend binary truth values into multi-valued or probabilistic frameworks to represent uncertainty.

Uses and importance

Recognizing and correcting false claims is essential in science, journalism, law and everyday decision-making. Distinguishing deliberate lies from honest mistakes affects how information is treated and how people are held responsible. In computing, clear handling of false values is fundamental to software correctness and safety.

Distinctions and notable facts

Falsehood is not the same as error in intent: a mistaken belief can be false without malice. In logic, a contradiction is a compound statement that is necessarily false under classical semantics. Some systems replace the simple binary by graded, fuzzy, or contextual notions of truth and falsity to capture vagueness and uncertainty.

For discussions of untruths and their treatment in language and law see falsehood, for formal analysis consult logical theory, and for truth-value semantics see truth values.