title: java & operator with two integers?
body: <p>From what I understand the &amp; operator is similar to the &amp;&amp; operator except that the &amp;&amp; only checks the second if the first is true, while the &amp; checks both regardless of the result of the first one. Basically the &amp;&amp; just saves a little time and power. </p>
  
  <p>If that is so, then how does this code work?</p>
  
  <pre><code>int l = 0;
  if ((l &amp; 8) != 0 &amp;&amp; (l &amp; 4) == 0){ do something}
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>what does the <code>(l &amp; 8)</code> and the <code>(l &amp; 4)</code> do? 
  What does the &amp; do in this case?</p>