Why using '|'  in java
<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Possible Duplicate:</strong><br>
  <a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10142059/java-operators-bitwise-or-and-assign-example">Java Operators : <code>|= bitwise OR and assign</code> example</a>  </p>
</blockquote>



<pre><code>boolean bAlive;

bAlive |= this.properties.containsKey(name);
</code></pre>

<p>In the above , the code uses <code>'|'</code>. 
Why using <code>'|</code>' ?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
