Is zero a number or the absence of a number?

Question

I have looked at several different articles/explanations but they either have contradictory statements or they use esoteric language that I cant wrap my head around. pls help

In: Mathematics

Answer 1

0 is a numeral. It denotes in the number it is part of that there is nothing in its place.

For example. The number 40. 4 in that is a numeral denoting that there are four lots of tens and 0 in that is a numeral denoting that there are zero lots of ones.

So, in the number 0 the numeral 0 denotes that there are zero lots of ones.