C++ operators are the symbols that operate on values to perform specific mathematical or logical computations on given values. They are the foundation of any programming language.
Example:
C++ //Driver Code Starts{ #include <iostream> using namespace std; int main() { //Driver Code Ends } int a = 10 + 20; cout << a; //Driver Code Starts{ return 0; } //Driver Code Ends } Explanation: Here, ‘+‘ is an addition operator and does the addition of 10 and 20 operands and return value 30 as a result.
C++ Operator Types
C++ operators are classified into 6 types on the basis of type of operation they perform:
1. Arithmetic Operators
Arithmetic operators are used to perform arithmetic or mathematical operations on the operands. For example, ‘+‘ is used for addition.
| Name | Symbol | Description |
|---|
| Addition | + | Adds two operands. |
|---|
| Subtraction | – | Subtracts second operand from the first. |
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| Multiplication | * | Multiplies two operands. |
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| Division | / | Divides first operand by the second operand. |
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| Modulo Operation | % | Returns the remainder an integer division. |
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Increment | ++ | Increase the value of operand by 1. |
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Decrement | — | Decrease the value of operand by 1. |
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Example:
C++ //Driver Code Starts{ #include <bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std; int main() { //Driver Code Ends } int a = 8, b = 3; // Addition cout << "a + b = " << (a + b) << endl; // Subtraction cout << "a - b = " << (a - b) << endl; // Multiplication cout << "a * b = " << (a * b) << endl; // Division cout << "a / b = " << (a / b) << endl; // Modulo cout << "a % b = " << (a % b) << endl; // Increament cout << "++a = " << ++a << endl; // Decrement cout << "b-- = " << b--; //Driver Code Starts{ return 0; } //Driver Code Ends } Outputa + b = 11 a - b = 5 a * b = 24 a / b = 2 a % b = 2 ++a = 9 --b = 2
Important Points:
- The Modulo operator (%) operator should only be used with integers. Other operators can also be used with floating point values.
- ++a and a++, both are increment operators, however, both are slightly different. In ++a, the value of the variable is incremented first and then it is used in the program. In b–, the value of the variable is assigned first and then it is incremented. Similarly happens for the decrement operator.
You may have noticed that some operator works on two operands while other work on one. On the basis of this operators are also classified as:
- Unary: Works on single operand.
- Binary: Works on two operands.
- Ternary: Works on three operands.
2. Relational Operators
Relational operators are used for the comparison of the values of two operands. For example, ‘>’ check right operand is greater.
| Name | Symbol | Description |
|---|
| Is Equal To | == | Checks both operands are equal |
|---|
| Greater Than | > | Checks first operand is greater than the second operand |
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| Greater Than or Equal To | >= | Checks first operand is greater than equal to the second operand |
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| Less Than | < | Checks first operand is lesser than the second operand |
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| Less Than or Equal To | <= | Checks first operand is lesser than equal to the second operand |
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| Not Equal To | != | Checks both operands are not equal |
|---|
Example
C++ //Driver Code Starts{ #include <bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std; int main() { //Driver Code Ends } int a = 6, b = 4; // Equal operator cout << "a == b is " << (a == b) << endl; // Greater than operator cout << "a > b is " << (a > b) << endl; // Greater than Equal to operator cout << "a >= b is " << (a >= b) << endl; // Lesser than operator cout << "a < b is " << (a < b) << endl; // Lesser than Equal to operator cout << "a <= b is " << (a <= b) << endl; // Not equal to operator cout << "a != b is " << (a != b); //Driver Code Starts{ return 0; } //Driver Code Ends } Outputa == b is 0 a > b is 1 a >= b is 1 a < b is 0 a <= b is 0 a != b is 1
Note: 0 denotes false and 1 denotes true.
3. Logical Operators
Logical operators are used to combine two or more conditions or constraints or to complement the evaluation of the original condition in consideration. The result returns a Boolean value, i.e., true or false.
| Name | Symbol | Description |
|---|
| Logical AND | && | Returns true only if all the operands are true or non-zero. |
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| Logical OR | || | Returns true if either of the operands is true or non-zero. |
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| Logical NOT | ! | Returns true if the operand is false or zero. |
|---|
Example:
C++ //Driver Code Starts{ #include <bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std; int main() { //Driver Code Ends } int a = 6, b = 4; // Logical AND operator cout << "a && b is " << (a && b) << endl; // Logical OR operator cout << "a || b is " << (a || b) << endl; // Logical NOT operator cout << "!b is " << (!b); //Driver Code Starts{ return 0; } //Driver Code Ends } Outputa && b is 1 a || b is 1 !b is 0
4. Bitwise Operators
Bitwise operators are works on bit-level. So, compiler first converted to bit-level and then the calculation is performed on the operands.
| Name | Symbol | Description |
|---|
| Binary AND | & | Copies a bit to the evaluated result if it exists in both operands |
|---|
| Binary OR | | | Copies a bit to the evaluated result if it exists in any of the operand |
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| Binary XOR | ^ | Copies the bit to the evaluated result if it is present in either of the operands but not both |
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| Left Shift | << | Shifts the value to left by the number of bits specified by the right operand. |
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| Right Shift | >> | Shifts the value to right by the number of bits specified by the right operand. |
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| One’s Complement | ~ | Changes binary digits 1 to 0 and 0 to 1 |
|---|
Note: Only char and int data types can be used with Bitwise Operators.
Example:
C++ //Driver Code Starts{ #include <bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std; int main() { //Driver Code Ends } int a = 6, b = 4; // Binary AND operator cout << "a & b is " << (a & b) << endl; // Binary OR operator cout << "a | b is " << (a | b) << endl; // Binary XOR operator cout << "a ^ b is " << (a ^ b) << endl; // Left Shift operator cout << "a<<1 is " << (a << 1) << endl; // Right Shift operator cout << "a>>1 is " << (a >> 1) << endl; // One’s Complement operator cout << "~(a) is " << ~(a); //Driver Code Starts{ return 0; } //Driver Code Ends } Outputa & b is 4 a | b is 6 a ^ b is 2 a<<1 is 12 a>>1 is 3 ~(a) is -7
5. Assignment Operators
Assignment operators are used to assign value to a variable. We assign the value of right operand into left operand according to which assignment operator we use.
Name | Symbol | Description |
|---|
| Assignment | = | Assigns the value on the right to the variable on the left. |
|---|
| Add and Assignment | += | First add right operand value into left operand then assign that value into left operand. |
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| Subtract and Assignment | -= | First subtract right operand value into left operand then assign that value into left operand. |
|---|
| Multiply and Assignment | *= | First multiply right operand value into left operand then assign that value into left operand. |
|---|
| Divide and Assignment | /= | First divide right operand value into left operand then assign that value into left operand. |
|---|
Example:
C++ //Driver Code Starts{ #include <bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std; int main() { //Driver Code Ends } int a = 6, b = 4; // Assignment Operator. cout << "a = " << a << endl; // Add and Assignment Operator. cout << "a += b is " << (a += b) << endl; // Subtract and Assignment Operator. cout << "a -= b is " << (a -= b) << endl; // Multiply and Assignment Operator. cout << "a *= b is " << (a *= b) << endl; // Divide and Assignment Operator. cout << "a /= b is " << (a /= b); //Driver Code Starts{ return 0; } //Driver Code Ends } Outputa = 6 a += b is 10 a -= b is 6 a *= b is 24 a /= b is 6
6. Ternary or Conditional Operators
Conditional operator returns the value, based on the condition. This operator takes three operands, therefore it is known as a Ternary Operator.
Syntax:
C++ Expression1 ? Expression2 : Expression3
In the above statement:
- The ternary operator ? determines the answer on the basis of the evaluation of Expression1.
- If Expression1 is true, then Expression2 gets evaluated.
- If Expression2 is true, hen Expression3 gets evaluated.
Example:
C++ //Driver Code Starts{ #include <bits/stdc++.h> using namespace std; int main() { //Driver Code Ends } int a = 3, b = 4; // Conditional Operator int result = (a < b) ? b : a; cout << "The greatest number " "is " << result; //Driver Code Starts{ return 0; } //Driver Code Ends } OutputThe greatest number is 4
Miscellaneous Operators
Apart from these operators, there are a few operators that do not fit in any of the above categories. These are:
1. sizeof Operator
sizeof operator is a unary operator used to compute the size of its operand or variable in bytes. For example,
C++ sizeof (char); sizeof (var_name);
2. Comma Operator (,)
Comma operator is a binary operator that is used for multiple purposes. It is used as a separator or used to evaluate its first operand and discards the result; it then evaluates the second operand and returns this value (and type).
C++ int n = (m+1, m-2, m+5); int a, b, c;
6. Addressof Operator (&)
Addressof operator is used to find the memory address in which a particular variable is stored. In C++, it is also used to create a reference.
C++ 5. Dot Operator(.)
Dot operator is used to access members of structure variables or class objects using their object names.
C++ 3. Arrow Operator
Arrow operator is used to access the variables of classes or structures through its pointer.
C++ 4. Casting Operators
Casting operators are used to convert the value of one data type to another data type. For example, for an integer value x:
C++ (float)x static_cast<float>(x)
Operator Precedency and Associativity
When there are multiple operators in a single expression, operator precedency and associativity decide in which order and which part of expression are calculate. Precedency tells which part of expression should be calculate first and associativity tells which direction to solve when same precedency operators are in expression.
Operator Precedence
Operator precedence says which operation is calculate first in the expression when expression have different precedency operators. For example:
3 * 2 + 8;
Will be evaluated as:
(3 * 2) + 8 = 14
It is because multiplication (*) have higher precedency then addition (+).
Operator Associativity
Operator associativity says if expression have more than one operator with same precedence then calculation happen in right to left or left to right.
50 / 25 * 2 = 1
Will be evaluated as:
(50 / 25) * 2
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