Bitwise operators in Python

 

Bitwise operators in Python

We use bitwise operators in Python to work directly with bits, the smallest units of data in computers. These operators help us perform fast and efficient tasks like checking, setting, or changing specific bits in numbers. Understanding these can make your programs run quicker and use less memory.

Python bitwise operators are simple yet powerful tools. They are widely used in areas like game development, networking, and embedded systems to handle low-level data operations easily and effectively.

Types of Python Bitwise Operators

1. Bitwise Logical Operators

AND Operator

The AND operator returns 1 for each bit position where both operands have 1. Otherwise, it returns 0. This operator is often used to clear specific bits in an integer. Here’s an example of using the AND operator in Python:

Example

a = 60  # 60 = 0011 1100

b = 13  # 13 = 0000 1101

c = a & b  # 12 = 0000 1100

print("Result of AND operation:", c)

Output

Result of AND operation: 12

OR Operator

The OR operator returns 1 for each bit position where at least one operand has 1. It returns 0 only if both operands have 0. This operator is commonly used to set specific bits in an integer. Here’s an example of using the OR operator in Python:

Example

a = 60  # 60 = 0011 1100

b = 13  # 13 = 0000 1101

c = a | b  # 61 = 0011 1101

print("Result of OR operation:", c)

Output

Result of OR operation: 61

XOR Operator

The XOR operator returns 1 for each bit position where the operands have different bits. It returns 0 if both bits are the same. This operator is useful for flipping the bits of an integer. Here’s an example of using the XOR operator in Python:

Example

a = 60  # 60 = 0011 1100

b = 13  # 13 = 0000 1101

c = a ^ b  # 49 = 0011 0001

print("Result of XOR operation:", c)

Output

Result of XOR operation: 49

NOT Operator

The NOT operator returns the complement of the operand, i.e., it changes each 1 to 0 and each 0 to 1. This operator is often used to reverse the bits of an integer. Here’s an example of using the NOT operator in Python:

Example

a = 60  # 60 = 0011 1100

c = ~a  # -61 = 1100 0011

print("Result of NOT operation:", c)

Output

Result of NOT operation: -61

2. Bitwise Shift Operators

Left Shift Operator

The left shift operator moves the bits of the operand to the left by a specified number of positions. This effectively multiplies the operand by 2, raised to the power of the shift count. Here’s an example of using the left shift operator in Python:

Example

a = 60  # 60 = 0011 1100

b = a << 2  # 240 = 1111 0000

print("Result of left shift operation:", b)

Output

Result of left shift operation: 240

Right Shift Operator

The right shift operator moves the operand bits to the right by a specified number of positions. This effectively divides the operand by 2, raised to the power of the shift count. Here’s an example of using the right shift operator in Python:

Example

a = 60  # 60 = 0011 1100

b = a >> 2  # 15 = 0000 1111

print("Result of right shift operation:", b)

Output

Result of right shift operation: 15