This page looks best with JavaScript enabled

Python - Basic Operators

 ·   ·  β˜• 6 min read

    Operators are the constructs, which can manipulate the value of operands. Consider the expression 4 + 5 = 9. Here, 4 and 5 are called the operands and + is called the operator.

    Types of Operator

    Python language supports the following types of operators βˆ’

    • Arithmetic Operators
    • Comparison (Relational) Operators
    • Assignment Operators
    • Logical Operators
    • Bitwise Operators
    • Membership Operators
    • Identity Operators

    Let us have a look at all the operators one by one.

    Python Arithmetic Operators

    Assume variable a holds the value 10 and variable b holds the value 21, then βˆ’

    OperatorDescriptionExample
    + AdditionAdds values on either side of the operator.a + b = 31
    - SubtractionSubtracts right hand operand from left hand operand.a – b = -11
    * MultiplicationMultiplies values on either side of the operatora * b = 210
    / DivisionDivides left hand operand by right hand operandb / a = 2.1
    % ModulusDivides left hand operand by right hand operand and returns remainderb % a = 1
    ** ExponentPerforms exponential (power) calculation on operatorsa**b =10 to the power 20
    //Floor Division - The division of operands where the result is the quotient in which the digits after the decimal point are removed. But if one of the operands is negative, the result is floored, i.e., rounded away from zero (towards negative infinity):9//2 = 4 and 9.0//2.0 = 4.0, -11//3 = -4, -11.0//3 = -4.0

    Python Comparison Operators

    These operators compare the values on either side of them and decide the relation among them. They are also called Relational operators.

    Assume variable a holds the value 10 and variable b holds the value 20, then βˆ’

    OperatorDescriptionExample
    ==If the values of two operands are equal, then the condition becomes true.(a == b) is not true.
    !=If values of two operands are not equal, then condition becomes true.(a!= b) is true.
    >If the value of left operand is greater than the value of right operand, then condition becomes true.(a > b) is not true.
    <If the value of left operand is less than the value of right operand, then condition becomes true.(a < b) is true.
    >=If the value of left operand is greater than or equal to the value of right operand, then condition becomes true.(a >= b) is not true.
    <=If the value of left operand is less than or equal to the value of right operand, then condition becomes true.(a <= b) is true.

    Python Assignment Operators

    Assume variable a holds the value 10 and variable b holds the value 20, then βˆ’

    OperatorDescriptionExample
    =Assigns values from right side operands to left side operandc = a + b assigns value of a + b into c
    += Add ANDIt adds right operand to the left operand and assign the result to left operandc += a is equivalent to c = c + a
    -= Subtract ANDIt subtracts right operand from the left operand and assign the result to left operandc -= a is equivalent to c = c - a
    *= Multiply ANDIt multiplies right operand with the left operand and assign the result to left operandc *= a is equivalent to c = c * a
    /= Divide ANDIt divides left operand with the right operand and assign the result to left operandc /= a is equivalent to c = c / ac /= a is equivalent to c = c / a
    %= Modulus ANDIt takes modulus using two operands and assign the result to left operandc %= a is equivalent to c = c % a
    **= Exponent ANDPerforms exponential (power) calculation on operators and assign value to the left operandc **= a is equivalent to c = c ** a
    //= Floor DivisionIt performs floor division on operators and assign value to the left operandc //= a is equivalent to c = c // a

    Python Bitwise Operators

    Bitwise operator works on bits and performs bit-by-bit operation. Assume if a = 60; and b = 13; Now in binary format they will be as follows βˆ’

    a = 0011 1100

    b = 0000 1101


    a&b = 0000 1100

    a|b = 0011 1101

    a^b = 0011 0001

    ~a = 1100 0011

    Python’s built-in function bin() can be used to obtain binary representation of an integer number.

    The following Bitwise operators are supported by Python language βˆ’

    OperatorDescriptionExample
    & Binary ANDOperator copies a bit, to the result, if it exists in both operands(a & b) (means 0000 1100)
    Binary ORIt copies a bit, if it exists in either operand.
    ^ Binary XORIt copies the bit, if it is set in one operand but not both.(a ^ b) = 49 (means 0011 0001)
    ~ Binary Ones ComplementIt is unary and has the effect of ‘flipping’ bits.(~a ) = -61 (means 1100 0011 in 2’s complement form due to a signed binary number.
    « Binary Left ShiftThe left operand’s value is moved left by the number of bits specified by the right operand.a « 2 = 240 (means 1111 0000)
    » Binary Right ShiftThe left operand’s value is moved right by the number of bits specified by the right operand.a » 2 = 15 (means 0000 1111)

    Python Logical Operators

    The following logical operators are supported by Python language. Assume variable a holds True and variable b holds False then βˆ’

    OperatorDescriptionExample
    and Logical ANDIf both the operands are true then condition becomes true.(a and b) is False.
    or Logical ORIf any of the two operands are non-zero then condition becomes true.(a or b) is True.
    not Logical NOTUsed to reverse the logical state of its operand.Not(a and b) is True.

    Python Membership Operators

    Python’s membership operators test for membership in a sequence, such as strings, lists, or tuples. There are two membership operators as explained below βˆ’

    OperatorDescriptionExample
    inEvaluates to true if it finds a variable in the specified sequence and false otherwise.x in y, here in results in a 1 if x is a member of sequence y.
    not inEvaluates to true if it does not finds a variable in the specified sequence and false otherwise.x not in y, here not in results in a 1 if x is not a member of sequence y.

    Python Identity Operators

    Identity operators compare the memory locations of two objects. There are two Identity operators as explained below βˆ’

    OperatorDescriptionExample
    isEvaluates to true if the variables on either side of the operator point to the same object and false otherwise.x is y, here is results in 1 if id(x) equals id(y).
    is notEvaluates to false if the variables on either side of the operator point to the same object and true otherwise.x is not y, here is not results in 1 if id(x) is not equal to id(y).

    Python Operators Precedence

    The following table lists all operators from highest precedence to the lowest.

    Exponentiation (raise to the power)

    Complement, unary plus and minus (method names for the last two are +@ and -@)

    Multiply, divide, modulo and floor division

    Addition and subtraction

    Right and left bitwise shift

    Bitwise ‘AND’

    Bitwise exclusive OR' and regular OR'

    Comparison operators

    Equality operators

    Assignment operators

    Identity operators

    Membership operators

    Logical operators


    Ohidur Rahman Bappy
    WRITTEN BY
    Ohidur Rahman Bappy
    πŸ“šLearner 🐍 Developer