Bitwise Operators0%
Bitwise Operators
Beginner8 min read•Updated: 2026-09-03
Bitwise Operators
Bitwise operators perform calculations directly on the individual binary bits of integers.
Key Concepts & Detailed Explanation
Bitwise Operators:
- & (AND): Bit is 1 if both bits are 1.
- | (OR): Bit is 1 if either bit is 1.
- ^ (XOR): Bit is 1 if bits are different.
- ~ (NOT): Inverts all bits (formula: ~x = -x - 1).
- << (Left shift): Shifts bits left, multiplying by 2 per shift.
- >> (Right shift): Shifts bits right, dividing by 2 per shift.
Code Examples & Output
Python
a = 6 # 0b0110
b = 3 # 0b0011
print("a & b:", a & b) # 0b0010 = 2
print("a | b:", a | b) # 0b0111 = 7
print("a ^ b:", a ^ b) # 0b0101 = 5
print("~a:", ~a) # -7
print("a << 1:", a << 1) # 12 (multiplied by 2)
print("a >> 1:", a >> 1) # 3 (divided by 2)
Expected Output:
Output
a & b: 2
a | b: 7
a ^ b: 5
~a: -7
a << 1: 12
a >> 1: 3
Best Practices & Common Pitfalls
Use 'bin(number)' to see the binary string representation of any integer.
Practice Quiz
1. What is the result of 4 << 1 in Python?
- A) 2
- B) 8
- C) 16
- D) 4
Answer: B
Explanation: Left shift by 1 bit multiplies the integer by 2, giving 8.
2. Which bitwise operator yields 1 only when bits differ?
- A) AND (&)
- B) OR (|)
- C) XOR (^)
- D) NOT (~)
Answer: C
Explanation: XOR (^) returns 1 when exactly one bit is 1.
Practice Challenge
Use bitwise AND (&) to test whether an integer is even or odd (hint: num & 1).
Next Lesson
Implicit Casting
Continue learning with hands-on practice, examples, and exercises in the upcoming topic.
Related Lessons
| Previous Lesson | Next Lesson |
|---|---|
| Identity & Membership Operators | Implicit Casting |
Practice Quiz
Test your understanding of this lesson with 1 questions. Each question has one correct answer.