Introduction to How Java Operators Work

Introduction

This article explains the basic Java operators.

What is an 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--));
}
}

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;
int l = 15;
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 operator 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