Operators in C

February 22, 2023

Operators

The operator is a symbol that tells the compiler to perform any mathematical or logical operation. There are a number of built-in-operators in C programming.

operators in c

Important:

  • The symbols, however, are used to perform any type of mathematical and logical operation.
  • In C programming, they are called Operators.
  • In the programming, operators are used to manipulate data and variables.
  • The combination of operands and operators is called expression.
  • Operands are variables that perform some operations in conjunction with the operators.
Operators in C

Types of operators

  • Unary operator:- These types of operators are used only with one operand.
  • Binary operator:-These types of operators are used with two operands.
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Arithmetic operator

  • The arithmetic operators is used to perform mathematical operations like addition, subtraction division and multiplication etc.
  • Below is a list for the type and function of these operators. Assume A=5 and B=10
Operator Function performed by operator Example
+ Adds two operands(float, integer etc.) A + B = 15
− Subtracts  2nd operand from the 1st one. A − B = -5
* Multiplies the operands. A * B = 50
/ Divides numerator by denominator. B / A = 2
% Returns remainder after dividing 1st operand with second one. B % A = 0
++ Increment operator increases the integer value by one. ++A = 6
— Decrement operator decreases the integer value by one. A– = 4

Program to demonstrate arithmetic operator

Run 
#include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>
int main()
{
    int a = 5,b = 10,c;
    c = a+b;
    printf("a+b = %d \n",c);
    c = a-b;
    printf("a-b = %d \n",c);
    c = a*b;
    printf("a*b = %d \n",c);
    c = a/b;
    printf("a/b = %d \n",c);
    c = b%a;
    printf("b modulus a= %d \n",c);
    c=++a;
    printf("a++= %d \n",c);
    a=5;
    c=a--;
    printf("a--= %d \n",a);
    return 0;
}

Output

a+b = 15 
a-b = -5 
a*b = 50 
a/b = 0 
b modulus a= 0 
a++= 6 
a--= 4

Relational operator

  • Relational operators are used to compare values of two variables.
  • As you can use these operators, you can find out, whether the values of any two variables are equal or not.
  • If not equal, then the value of which variable is big and which variable’s value is small.
  • Such operators are used with conditional statements.
  • These operators are used to check the condition.
  • when the condition is true, the value becomes true and the values becomes false when the condition is false.
  • All the relational operators that are being used in C language are given below. Assume A=5, B=10
Operator Function performed by operator Example
== Compares if the values of two operands are equal or not. If yes, then the condition becomes true, false otherwise. (A == B) is not true.
!= Compares if the values of two operands are equal or not. If the values are not equal, then the condition becomes true, false otherwise. (A != B) is true.
> Compares if the value of left operand is greater than the value of right operand. If yes, then the condition becomes true, false otherwise. (A > B) is not true.
< Compares if the value of left operand is less than the value of right operand. If yes, then the condition becomes true, false otherwise. (A < B) is true.
>= Compares if the value of left operand is greater than or equal to the value of right operand. If yes, then the condition becomes true, false otherwise. (A >= B) is not true.
<= Compares if the value of left operand is less than or equal to the value of right operand. If yes, then the condition becomes true, false otherwise. (A <= B) is true.

Program to demonstrate use of Relational operator

Run 
#include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>
int main()
{
    int a = 5, b = 10;
    printf("a=5, b=10\n");
    printf("%d == %d is %d \n", a, b, a == b);
    printf("%d != %d is %d \n", a, b, a != b);
    printf("%d > %d is %d \n", a, b, a > b);
    printf("%d < %d is %d \n", a, b, a < b); 
    printf("%d >= %d is %d \n", a, b, a >= b);
    printf("%d <= %d is %d \n", a, b, a <= b);
    return 0;
}

Output

a=5, b=10
5 == 10 is 0 
5 != 10 is 1 
5 > 10 is 0 
5 < 10 is 1 
5 >= 10 is 0 
5 <= 10 is 1

Logical operator

  • The logic gate can be applied (finds application in mathematical operations too) with these operator.
  • Logical operators are used with decision making statements.
  • These operators are used to check two condition together in control statements.
  • The table about logical operators is being given. Assume A=5, B=10.
Operator Function performed by operator Example
&& Logical AND operator. If both the conditions are satisfied then the condition becomes true . (A>8 && B==10) is false.
|| Logical OR Operator. If any of the conditions are satisfied, then the condition becomes true. (A>8 || B==10) is true.
! Logical NOT Operator. It is used to reverse the logical state of its operand. If a condition is true, then Logical NOT operator will make it false. !(A>8 || B==10) is false.

Program to demonstrate use of logical operator

Run 
#include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>
int main()
{
    int a = 5, b = 10;
    printf("(a>8 && b==10) will return %d",(a>8)&&(b==10));
    printf("\n(a>8 || b==10) will return %d",(a>8)||(b==10));
    printf("\n!(a>8 || b==10) will return %d",!((a>8)||(b==10)));
    return 0;
}

Output

 Bitwise operator

  • The Bitwise operators work on bits of a integer value.
  • Bitwise operators are used to perform bit level operations on given variables.
  • The decimal values of the variables are converted to bits.
  • After this the operations are performed on those bits, to understand it lets recall some basics :-
p q p & q p | q
0 0 0 0
0 1 0 1
1 1 1 1
1 0 0 1
  • Assume A = 50 and B = 10 in binary, they can be written as:
  • A = 0011 0010 B = 0000 1010
  • And bitwise comparison A&B= 0000 0010
  • OR bitwise comparison A|B=0011 1010
  • And then assume A=50, B=10
Operator Function performed by operator Example
& Binary AND Operator copies a bit to the result if it exists in both operands else copies zero. (A & B) = 2
| Binary OR Operator copies a bit if it exists in either operand. (A | B) = 58
^ Bitwise exclusive OR Operator. If the corresponding bit of any of the operand is 1 then the output would be 1, otherwise 0. (A ^ B) = 56
~ Binary compliment operator i.e.- 0 changes to 1 and 1 to 0 (~A ) = -51
<< Binary Left shift Operator which rotates the number of bits to the left by specified positions as mentioned on the right. A << 2 = 200
>> Binary Right Rotation Operator which rotates the number of bits to right by specified positions as mentioned on the right. A >> 2 = 12

Program to demonstrate use of Bitwise operator

Run 
#include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>
int main()
{
   int a =50, b =10;
   printf("a&b = %d", a&b);
   printf("\na|b = %d", a|b);
   printf("\na^b = %d", a^b);
   printf("\n~a = %d", ~a);
   printf("\na<<2 = %d",a<<2);
   printf("\na>>2 = %d", a>>2);
   return 0;
}

Output

a&b = 2
a|b = 58
a^b = 56
~a = -51
a<<2 = 200 
a>>2 = 12

 Assignment operator

  • Assignment operators are used to assign values of variables to each other.
  • The operator which changes the value of the operands themselves, here is how they work.
Operator Function performed by operator Example
= Simple assignment operator. Assigns values from right side operands to left side operand C = A + B will assign the value of A + B to C
+= Add AND assignment operator. It adds the right operand to the left operand and assign the result to the left operand. C += A is equivalent to C = C + A
-= Subtract AND assignment operator. It subtracts the right operand from the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand. C -= A is equivalent to C = C – A
*= Multiply AND assignment operator. It multiplies the right operand with the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand. C *= A is equivalent to C = C * A
/= Divide AND assignment operator. It divides the left operand with the right operand and assigns the result to the left operand. C /= A is equivalent to C = C / A
%= Modulus AND assignment operator. It takes modulus using two operands and assigns the result to the left operand. C %= A is equivalent to C = C % A
<<= Left shift AND assignment operator. C <<= 2 is same as C = C << 2
>>= Right shift AND assignment operator. C >>= 2 is same as C = C >> 2
&= Bitwise AND assignment operator. C &= 2 is same as C = C & 2
^= Bitwise exclusive OR and assignment operator. C ^= 2 is same as C = C ^ 2
|= Bitwise inclusive OR and assignment operator. C |= 2 is same as C = C | 2

Program to demonstrate use of assignment operator

Run 
#include<stdio.h>
#include<conio.h>
int main()
{
    int a = 10, c;
    c = a;      // c is 5
    printf("c = %d\n", c);
    c += a;     // c is 10 
    printf("c = %d\n", c);
    c -= a;     // c is 5
    printf("c = %d\n", c);
    c *= a;     // c is 25
    printf("c = %d\n", c);
    c /= a;     // c is 5
    printf("c = %d\n", c);
    c %= a;     // c = 0
    printf("c = %d\n", c);
    return 0;
}

Output

c = 10
c = 20
c = 10
c = 100
c = 10
c = 0

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 Misc operator

  • There are a few more miscellaneous operator worth mentioning
Operator Function performed by operator Example
sizeof() Returns the size of a variable. sizeof(a), for an integer value, it returns 4.
& Returns the address of a variable. &a; returns the address of the memory location of variable.
* Pointer to a variable. *a;
? : Conditional Expression. If Condition is true ? then value X : otherwise value Y

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(a>8 && b==10) will return 0
(a>8 || b==10) will return 1
!(a>8 || b==10) will return 0