How to use operators in python


Python Operators

Operators are used to perform operations on variables and values.

In the example below, we use the + operator to add together two values:

Python divides the operators in the following groups:

  • Arithmetic operators
  • Assignment operators
  • Comparison operators
  • Logical operators
  • Identity operators
  • Membership operators
  • Bitwise operators

Python Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic operators are used with numeric values to perform common mathematical operations:

OperatorNameExampleTry it
+ Addition x + y Try it »
- Subtraction x - y Try it »
* Multiplication x * y Try it »
/ Division x / y Try it »
% Modulus x % y Try it »
** Exponentiation x ** y Try it »
// Floor division x // y Try it »

Python Assignment Operators

Assignment operators are used to assign values to variables:

OperatorExampleSame AsTry it
= x = 5 x = 5 Try it »
+= x += 3 x = x + 3 Try it »
-= x -= 3 x = x - 3 Try it »
*= x *= 3 x = x * 3 Try it »
/= x /= 3 x = x / 3 Try it »
%= x %= 3 x = x % 3 Try it »
//= x //= 3 x = x // 3 Try it »
**= x **= 3 x = x ** 3 Try it »
&= x &= 3 x = x & 3 Try it »
|= x |= 3 x = x | 3 Try it »
^= x ^= 3 x = x ^ 3 Try it »
>>= x >>= 3 x = x >> 3 Try it »
<<= x <<= 3 x = x << 3 Try it »


Python Comparison Operators

Comparison operators are used to compare two values:

OperatorNameExampleTry it
== Equal x == y Try it »
!= Not equal x != y Try it »
> Greater than x > y Try it »
< Less than x < y Try it »
>= Greater than or equal to x >= y Try it »
<= Less than or equal to x <= y Try it »

Python Logical Operators

Logical operators are used to combine conditional statements:

OperatorDescriptionExampleTry it
and  Returns True if both statements are true x < 5 and  x < 10 Try it »
or Returns True if one of the statements is true x < 5 or x < 4 Try it »
not Reverse the result, returns False if the result is true not(x < 5 and x < 10) Try it »

Python Identity Operators

Identity operators are used to compare the objects, not if they are equal, but if they are actually the same object, with the same memory location:

OperatorDescriptionExampleTry it
is  Returns True if both variables are the same object x is y Try it »
is not Returns True if both variables are not the same object x is not y Try it »

Python Membership Operators

Membership operators are used to test if a sequence is presented in an object:

OperatorDescriptionExampleTry it
in  Returns True if a sequence with the specified value is present in the object x in y Try it »
not in Returns True if a sequence with the specified value is not present in the object x not in y Try it »

Python Bitwise Operators

Bitwise operators are used to compare (binary) numbers:

OperatorNameDescription
AND Sets each bit to 1 if both bits are 1
| OR Sets each bit to 1 if one of two bits is 1
 ^ XOR Sets each bit to 1 if only one of two bits is 1
NOT Inverts all the bits
<< Zero fill left shift Shift left by pushing zeros in from the right and let the leftmost bits fall off
>> Signed right shift Shift right by pushing copies of the leftmost bit in from the left, and let the rightmost bits fall off

Test Yourself With Exercises



How do you use && in Python?

To use the and operator in Python, use the keyword and instead of && because there is no && operator in Python. If you use && operator in Python, you will get the SyntaxError. Likewise, || and ! are not valid Python operators. So instead, use or and not operator.

What does >> mean in Python?

In Python >> is called right shift operator. It is a bitwise operator. It requires a bitwise representation of object as first operand. Bits are shifted to right by number of bits stipulated by second operand. Leading bits as towards left as a result of shifting are set to 0.

What are the 7 types of operators?

The value that the operator operates on is called the operand. In Python, there are seven different types of operators: arithmetic operators, assignment operators, comparison operators, logical operators, identity operators, membership operators, and boolean operators.