Operators in Java

Introduction

Operators in Java are symbols that perform specific operations on variables and values. Java provides a rich set of operators to perform various tasks such as arithmetic, comparison, logical operations, and more.

Types of Operators

Java operators can be classified into the following categories:

  • Arithmetic Operators: Used to perform basic mathematical operations.
  • Relational (Comparison) Operators: Used to compare two values.
  • Logical Operators: Used to perform logical operations.
  • Assignment Operators: Used to assign values to variables.
  • Unary Operators: Operate on a single operand.
  • Bitwise Operators: Perform bit-level operations.

1. Arithmetic Operators

These operators are used for mathematical calculations.

Operator Description Example
+ Addition int sum = a + b;
- Subtraction int diff = a - b;
* Multiplication int product = a * b;
/ Division int quotient = a / b;
% Modulus int remainder = a % b;

2. Relational Operators

These operators are used to compare two values and return a boolean result.

Operator Description Example
== Equal to a == b
!= Not equal to a != b
> Greater than a > b
< Less than a < b
>= Greater than or equal to a >= b
<= Less than or equal to a <= b

3. Logical Operators

These operators are used to perform logical operations.

Operator Description Example
&& Logical AND a > b && a > c
|| Logical OR a > b || a > c
! Logical NOT !(a > b)

Example: Using Operators

Step 1: Write the Program

Create a file named OperatorsDemo.java and write the following code:

    public class OperatorsDemo {
        public static void main(String[] args) {
            // Arithmetic Operators
            int a = 10, b = 5;
            System.out.println("Addition: " + (a + b));
            System.out.println("Subtraction: " + (a - b));
            System.out.println("Multiplication: " + (a * b));
            System.out.println("Division: " + (a / b));
            System.out.println("Modulus: " + (a % b));
    
            // Relational Operators
            System.out.println("a is equal to b: " + (a == b));
            System.out.println("a is not equal to b: " + (a != b));
            System.out.println("a is greater than b: " + (a > b));
            System.out.println("a is less than b: " + (a < b));
    
            // Logical Operators
            boolean x = true, y = false;
            System.out.println("x AND y: " + (x && y));
            System.out.println("x OR y: " + (x || y));
            System.out.println("NOT x: " + (!x));
        }
    }

4. Assignment Operators

These operators are used to assign values to variables. Examples include:

Operator Description Example
= Assigns the value on the right to the variable on the left int a = 10;
+= Adds the value on the right to the variable on the left a += 5; // a = a + 5
-= Subtracts the value on the right from the variable on the left a -= 5; // a = a - 5
*= Multiplies the variable on the left by the value on the right a *= 5; // a = a * 5
/= Divides the variable on the left by the value on the right a /= 5; // a = a / 5
%= Stores the remainder of division in the variable a %= 5; // a = a % 5

5. Unary Operators

These operators operate on a single operand and perform operations such as incrementing, decrementing, or negating a value.

Operator Description Example
+ Indicates a positive value +a
- Negates a value -a
++ Increments a value by 1 a++ or ++a
-- Decrements a value by 1 a-- or --a
! Reverses a boolean value !true becomes false

6. Bitwise Operators

These operators perform bit-level operations on data. They are used for tasks like setting, toggling, or shifting bits.

Operator Description Example
& Bitwise AND a & b
| Bitwise OR a | b
^ Bitwise XOR a ^ b
~ Bitwise Complement ~a
<< Left Shift a << 2
>> Right Shift a >> 2
>>> Unsigned Right Shift a >>> 2

Example: Using Assignment, Unary, and Bitwise Operators

Step 1: Write the Program

Create a file named OperatorsExample.java and write the following code:

    public class OperatorsExample {
        public static void main(String[] args) {
            // Assignment Operators
            int a = 10;
            a += 5; // a = a + 5
            System.out.println("After += operation: " + a);
    
            // Unary Operators
            int b = 5;
            System.out.println("Original value of b: " + b);
            System.out.println("Post-increment: " + b++);
            System.out.println("Pre-increment: " + ++b);
    
            // Bitwise Operators
            int x = 6; // 0110 in binary
            int y = 3; // 0011 in binary
            System.out.println("Bitwise AND: " + (x & y));
            System.out.println("Bitwise OR: " + (x | y));
            System.out.println("Bitwise XOR: " + (x ^ y));
            System.out.println("Bitwise Complement: " + (~x));
            System.out.println("Left Shift: " + (x << 1));
            System.out.println("Right Shift: " + (x >> 1));
        }
    }

Step 2: Compile the Program

Open the terminal or command prompt, navigate to the file location, and type:

    javac OperatorsDemo.java

Step 3: Run the Program

Type the following command to execute the program:

    java OperatorsDemo

You should see the output:

    Addition: 15
    Subtraction: 5
    Multiplication: 50
    Division: 2
    Modulus: 0
    a is equal to b: false
    a is not equal to b: true
    a is greater than b: true
    a is less than b: false
    x AND y: false
    x OR y: true
    NOT x: false

Conclusion

Operators are essential for performing various tasks in Java programs. Understanding their usage allows you to write effective and efficient code. Experiment with different operators to deepen your understanding.




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