Python Bitwise Operators
Bitwise operators in Python work directly with binary numbers (0s and 1s), which are how computers understand data. They are useful when you want to perform fast and efficient calculations, especially in programming tasks like encryption, compression, or low-level data handling. Instead of dealing with full numbers, these operators compare individual bits of those numbers. Learning them can help you write better-performing code.
Important Bitwise Operators in Python
AND (&) – Compares bits of two numbers and gives 1 only if both bits are 1. Otherwise, it gives 0.
OR (|) – Returns 1 if at least one of the compared bits is 1. It gives 0 only if both bits are 0.
XOR (^) – Gives 1 when the two bits are different. If they are the same, the result is 0.
NOT (~) – Flips every bit in a number. 0 becomes 1, and 1 becomes 0, effectively turning the number negative.
Left Shift (<<) – Moves bits to the left, which is like multiplying the number by 2 for every shift.
Right Shift (>>) – Moves bits to the right, which works like dividing the number by 2 for every shift.
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