An Bitwise operator is used for the manipulation of data at the bit level. These operators are not applied for the float and double datatype.

Bitwise operator first converts the integer into its binary representation then performs its operation. Bitwise operators subsist of two digits, either 0 or 1. Some of the bitwise operators are (&, | , ^, ~)

Note: Shift Bitwise operators are used to shift the bits right to left. Some of the shift bitwise operators are(<<, >>)



Symbol

Operator

Description

Syntax

&

Bitwise AND

Performs bit-by-bit AND operation and returns the result.

a && b

|

Bitwise OR

Performs bit-by-bit OR operation and returns the result.

a || b

^

Bitwise XOR

Performs bit-by-bit XOR operation and returns the result.

a ^ b

~

Bitwise First Complement

Flips all the set and unset bits on the number.

~a

<< 

Bitwise Leftshift

Shifts the number in binary form by one place in the operation and returns the result.

a << b

>> 

Bitwise Rightshilft

Shifts the number in binary form by one place in the operation and returns the result.

a >> b



We use the following truth table for the Bitwise Operators:

A

B

A & B (Bitwise AND)

A | B (Bitwise OR)

A ^ B (Bitwise XOR)

1

1

1

1

0

0

1

0

1

1

1

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0


SIMPLE C PROGRAMMING USING BITWISE OPERATORS


// C program to illustrate the bitwise operators

#include <stdio.h>

int main()

{

          int a = 25, b = 5;

          // using operators and printing results

          printf("a & b : %d\n", a & b);

          printf("a | b : %d\n", a | b);

          printf("a ^ b : %d\n", a ^ b);

          printf("~a : %d\n", ~a);

          printf("a >> b : %d\n", a >> b);

          printf("a << b : %d\n", a << b);

          return 0;

}

        Output

                a & b : 1

                a | b : 29

                a ^ b : 28

                ~a : -26

                a >> b : 0

                a << b : 800

QUESTION FOR YOU

        How shift operators work ? comment your answer.