Introduction to How Java Operators Work

Introduction

This article explains the the basic Java operators.

What is operator

An operator is a method that manipulates values. Let's use the example of addition, in which we add two values (like 1+2) where the values are operands and the "+" sign is the operator, in other words the operator is a method used to operate on operands.

Operators in Java

Java provides various types of operators to manipulate various values.

• Arithmetic Operators
• Relational Operators
• Bitwise Operators.
• Logical Operators.
• Assignment Operators.
• Miscellaneous Operators.

1. Arithmetic Operators

It is used in mathematical expressions in the same way it is used in algebra. It includes the following:

• Addition (+)
• Subtraction (-)
• Manipulation (*)
• Division (/)
• Modulus (%)
• Increment (++)
• Decrement (--)

Example

ArithmeticEx.java

public class ArithmeticEx

  {

    public static void main(String args[])

      {

        int i = 15; int j = 25; int k = 35; int l = 10;

        System.out.println("i + j = " + (i + j) );

        System.out.println("i - j = " + (i - j) );

        System.out.println("i * j = " + (i * j) );

        System.out.println("j / i = " + (j / i) );

        System.out.println("j % i = " + (j % i) );

        System.out.println("k % i = " + (k % i) );

        System.out.println("i++ = " + (i++) );

        System.out.println("j-- = " + (i--) );

        // Check the difference in l++ and ++l System.out.println("l++ = " + (l++) ); System.out.println("++l = " + (++l) );

      }
  }

Output

2. Relational Operators

This operator is used to compare two values.

• > (Greater Than operator).
• < (Less Than operator).
• == (EqualTo operator)
• != (Not EqualsTo operator; Work same as EqualTo operator).
• >= (Greater than EuqalTo).
• <= (Less Than EqualTo).

Example

RelationalOperatorEx.java

public class RelationalOperatorEx

  {

    public static void main(String args[])

      {

        int i = 10;

        int j = 20;

        System.out.println("i == j = " + (i == j) );

        System.out.println("i != j = " + (i != j) );

        System.out.println("i > j = " + (i > j) );

        System.out.println("i < j = " + (i < j) );

        System.out.println("j >= i = " + (j >= i) );

        System.out.println("j <= i = " + (j <= i) );

      }

  }

Output

3. Bitwise Operator

This operator works on bits to perform bit by bit operations.

• >>> (Shift right zero fill operaotr).
• << (Binary Left Shift Operator).
• >> (binary right shift operator).

• && (Binary and operator)
• || (Binary Or).
• ^ (Binary XOR).
• ~ (Binary Ones Complement; used to flipping bits).

Example

BitwiseOperatorEx.java

public class BitwiseOperatorEx

  {

    public static void main(String args[])

      {

        int i = 45; /* 45 = 101101 */

        int l = 15; /* 15 = 1111 */

        int k = 0; k = i & l;

        System.out.println("i & l = " + k );

        k = i | l;

        System.out.println("i | l = " + k );

        k = i ^ l;

        System.out.println("i ^ l = " + k );

        k = ~i;

        System.out.println("~i = " + k );

        k = i << 2;

        System.out.println("i << 2 = " + k );

        k = i >> 2;

        System.out.println("i >> 2 = " + k );

        k = i >>> 2; 

        System.out.println("i >>> 2 = " + k );

      }

  }

Output

4. Logical Operators

This operators works on Boolean conditions (like true/false conditions).

• || (Logical Or)

          True if any of the two operands are positive.

• && (Logical And operator)

          True if both the operands are positive.

• ! ( Logical Not Operator)

          If a condition is true then the logical Not operator will return false.

Example

LogicalOperator.java

public class LogicalOperatorEx

  {

    public static void main(String args[])

      {

        boolean i = true;

        boolean j = false;

        System.out.println("i || j = " + (i||j) );

        System.out.println("i && j = " + (i&&j));

        System.out.println("!(i && j) = " + !(i && j));

      }

  }

Output

5. Assignment Operator

The following are the assignment operators provided by Java.

• *= (Multiply assignment operator)

• /= (Divide assignment operator)

• |= (bitwise inclusive OR assignment operator).

• = ( Simple assignment operator)

• >>= ( Right shift assignment operator)

• += ( Add assignment operator)

• -= ( Subtract assignment operator)

• %= (Modulus assignment operator)

• <<= (Left shift assignment operator).

• &=  (Bitwise assignment operator).

• ^= ( bitwise exclusive OR assignment operator).

Example

AssignmentOperatorEx.java

public class AssignmentOperatorEx

 {

  public static void main(String args[])

  {

     int i = 15;    

     int j = 25;

     int k = 0;

     k = i + j;

     System.out.println("k = i + j = " + k );

     k += i ;

     System.out.println("k += i  = " + k );

     k -= i ;

     System.out.println("k -= i = " + k );

     k *= i ;

     System.out.println("k *= i = " + k );

     i = 15;

     k = 15;

     k /= i ;

     System.out.println("k /= i = " + k );

     i = 15;

     k = 15;

     k %= i ;

     System.out.println("k %= i  = " + k );

     k <<= 2 ;

     System.out.println("k <<= 2 = " + k );

     k >>= 2 ;

     System.out.println("k >>= 2 = " + k );

     k >>= 2 ;

     System.out.println("k >>= i = " + k );

     k &= i ;

     System.out.println("k &= 2  = " + k ); 

     k ^= i ;

     System.out.println("k ^= i   = " + k );

     k |= i ;

     System.out.println("k |= i   = " + k );

  }

}

Output