A Comprehensive Guide to C++ Operators

C++ operators are special symbols that perform operations on variables and values. Understanding these operators is crucial for programming in C++. This guide covers the main categories of operators in C++, along with key concepts and examples.

1. Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic operators perform basic mathematical operations. Here are the most commonly used:

• Addition (+): Adds two operands.
  a + b
• Subtraction (-): Subtracts the second operand from the first.
  a - b
• Multiplication (*): Multiplies two operands.
  a * b
• Division (/): Divides the numerator by the denominator.
  a / b
• Modulus (%): Returns the remainder of division.
  a % b

2. Relational Operators

Relational operators compare two values and return a boolean result (true or false).

• Equal to (==): Checks if two values are equal.
  a == b
• Not equal to (!=): Checks if two values are not equal.
  a != b
• Greater than (>): Checks if the left operand is greater than the right.
  a > b
• Less than (<): Checks if the left operand is less than the right.
  a < b
• Greater than or equal to (>=): Checks if the left operand is greater than or equal to the right.
  a >= b
• Less than or equal to (<=): Checks if the left operand is less than or equal to the right.
  a <= b

3. Logical Operators

Logical operators are used to combine or negate boolean expressions.

• Logical AND (&&): Returns true if both operands are true.
  a && b
• Logical OR (||): Returns true if at least one operand is true.
  a || b
• Logical NOT (!): Negates the boolean value.
  !a

4. Bitwise Operators

Bitwise operators perform operations on bits and are commonly used for low-level programming.

• Bitwise AND (&)
• Bitwise OR (|)
• Bitwise XOR (^)
• Bitwise NOT (~)
• Left Shift (<<): Shifts bits to the left.
• Right Shift (>>): Shifts bits to the right.

5. Assignment Operators

Assignment operators are used to assign values to variables.

• Simple assignment (=): Assigns the right operand's value to the left operand.
  a = b
• Add and assign (+=): Adds the right operand to the left operand and assigns the result.
  a += b (equivalent to a = a + b)
• Subtract and assign (-=): Subtracts the right operand from the left and assigns the result.
  a -= b

6. Miscellaneous Operators

This category includes several unique operators:

• Ternary Operator (? :): A shorthand for if-else statements.
  condition ? value_if_true : value_if_false
• Comma Operator (,): Evaluates two expressions and returns the value of the second.
  a = (b = 3, b + 2) (sets b to 3, then a to 5)

Conclusion

Understanding operators is essential for writing effective C++ code. They allow you to manipulate data and control the flow of your program. Practice using these operators to strengthen your programming skills!