Bitwise Algorithms Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes Like Article Like Report Bitwise algorithms in Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) involve manipulating individual bits of binary representations of numbers to perform operations efficiently. These algorithms utilize bitwise operators like AND, OR, XOR, NOT, Left Shift, and Right Shift.BasicsIntroduction to Bitwise AlgorithmsBitwise Operators in C/C++Bitwise Operators in JavaPython Bitwise OperatorsJavaScript Bitwise OperatorsAll about Bit ManipulationLittle and Big Endian MysteryBit Manipulation Tips and TricksBits manipulation (Important tactics)Bitwise Hacks for Competitive ProgrammingEasy Problems on Bit AlgorithmsBinary Representation Turn off the rightmost set bit Check if K-th Bit Set Set the K-th Bit Modulus division by 2's Power Odd Occurring NumberPower of twoThe only set bit Add Bit StringsCheck for Integer OverflowXOR without using XOR Check for EqualCheck for opposite signsSwap Two Numbers Russian Peasant Medium Problems on Bit AlgorithmsMost Significant Set Bit Rightmost Set BitCount Set Bits Swap Bits Rotate Bits Smallest of Three Minimum without branchingSmallest power of 2 greater than or equal to nProgram to find parityCheck if binary is palindromeGenerate n-bit Gray CodesCheck for SparseEuclid when % and / are costlySquare without using *, / and pow()Cyclic Redundancy Check and Modulo-2 DivisionSet Bits in a RangeCheck for BleakGray to Binary and Vice Versa Hard Problems on Bit AlgorithmsNext higher with same set bitsKaratsuba Algorithm for fast MultiplicationMax Subarray XORLongest Sequence of 1’s in Binary with One FlipClosest Smaller and greater with same set bits Bitmasking and Dynamic Programming Compute the ParityXOR Encryption by Shifting PlaintextCount pairs with at least one digit commonFloating to BinaryBooth’s Multiplication AlgorithmPairs with Pandigital Concatenationn-th number whose binary is a palindromeTwo non-repeating in an array of repeatingQuick Links :DSA Tutorial‘Practice Problems’ on Bit Magic‘Quiz’ on Bit Magic‘Videos’ on Bit MagicWhat are Bitwise Algorithms?Bitwise algorithms are algorithms that operate on individual bits of data rather than on larger data types like integers or floating-point numbers. These algorithms manipulate bits directly, typically using bitwise operators such as AND, OR, XOR, shift left, shift right, and complement.Common Bitwise Algorithms and OperationsHere are some common bitwise algorithms and operations:Bitwise AND (&): Takes two numbers as input and performs a bitwise AND operation on their corresponding bits. It returns 1 only if both bits are 1; otherwise, it returns 0.Bitwise OR (|): Performs a bitwise OR operation on the corresponding bits of two numbers. It returns 1 if at least one of the bits is 1.Bitwise XOR (^): Performs a bitwise exclusive OR operation on the corresponding bits of two numbers. It returns 1 if the bits are different and 0 if they are the same.Bitwise NOT (~): Performs a bitwise NOT operation, which flips each bit of the input (1 becomes 0 and 0 becomes 1).Left Shift (<<) and Right Shift (>>): These operators shift the bits of a number to the left or right by a specified number of positions. Left shifting is equivalent to multiplying the number by 2, while right shifting is equivalent to dividing by 2.Applications of Bitwise AlgorithmsBit manipulation (setting, clearing, toggling bits): Bitwise operators are often used to manipulate individual bits of numbers. This includes tasks such as setting bits (using OR), clearing bits (using AND with the complement), toggling bits (using XOR with 1), and checking the value of a specific bit.Efficient storage of data: Bitwise algorithms play a crucial role in data compression techniques like Huffman coding. They can efficiently represent and process compressed data by manipulating bits directly.Cryptography: Many cryptographic algorithms, such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), DES (Data Encryption Standard), and SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm), utilize bitwise operations for encryption, decryption, and hashing. Bitwise XOR, in particular, is commonly used in encryption algorithms for its simplicity and effectiveness.Networking and Protocol Handling: Bitwise algorithms are used in networking protocols for tasks like IP address manipulation, subnet masking, and packet parsing. For example, bitwise AND is used in subnet masking to determine the network address from an IP address and subnet mask.Low-Level System Programming: Bitwise operations are essential in low-level system programming for tasks such as device control, memory management, and bit-level I/O operations. They are used to manipulate hardware registers, set/clear flags, and optimize code for performance.Error Detection and Correction: Bitwise algorithms are employed in error detection and correction techniques, such as CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) and Hamming codes. These algorithms use bitwise XOR and other operations to detect and correct errors in transmitted data.Quick Links :DSA Tutorial‘Practice Problems’ on Bit Magic‘Quiz’ on Bit Magic‘Videos’ on Bit Magic Comment More infoAdvertise with us Next Article Analysis of Algorithms H harendrakumar123 Follow Improve Article Tags : Bit Magic DSA Practice Tags : Bit Magic Similar Reads Basics & PrerequisitesLogic Building ProblemsLogic building is about creating clear, step-by-step methods to solve problems using simple rules and principles. Itâs the heart of coding, enabling programmers to think, reason, and arrive at smart solutions just like we do.Here are some tips for improving your programming logic: Understand the pro 2 min read Analysis of AlgorithmsAnalysis of Algorithms is a fundamental aspect of computer science that involves evaluating performance of algorithms and programs. 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