JAVA OPERATORS

GENERAL

Java provides a rich set of operators to manipulate variables. We can divide all the Java operators into the
following groups:

 Arithmetic Operators

 Relational Operators

 Bitwise Operators

 Logical Operators

 Assignment Operators

 Misc Operators

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THE ARITHMETIC OPERATORS

Arithmetic operators are used in mathematical expressions in the same way that they are used in algebra. The
following table lists the arithmetic operators. Assume integer variable A holds 10 and variable B holds 20, then:

Operator Description Example

+ Addition - Adds values on either side of the operator A + B will give 30

- Subtraction - Subtracts right hand operand from left hand operand A - B will give -10

* Multiplication - Multiplies values on either side of the operator A * B will give 200

/ Division - Divides left hand operand by right hand operand B / A will give 2

Modulus - Divides left hand operand by right hand operand and returns
% B % A will give 0
remainder

++ Increment - Increases the value of operand by 1 B++ gives 21

-- Decrement - Decreases the value of operand by 1 B-- gives 19

Example

The following simple example program demonstrates the arithmetic operators. Copy and paste the following
Java program into Test.java file and compile and run this program:

public class Test {

public static void main(String args[]) {

int a = 10;
int b = 20;
int c = 25;
int d = 25;
System.out.println("a + b = " + (a + b) );
System.out.println("a - b = " + (a - b) );
System.out.println("a * b = " + (a * b) );
System.out.println("b / a = " + (b / a) );
System.out.println("b % a = " + (b % a) );
System.out.println("c % a = " + (c % a) );
System.out.println("a++ = " + (a++) );
System.out.println("b-- = " + (a--) );
// Check the difference in d++ and ++d
System.out.println("d++ = " + (d++) );
System.out.println("++d = " + (++d) );
}
}

This would produce the following result:

a + b = 30
a - b = -10
a * b = 200
b / a = 2
b % a = 0
c % a = 5
a++ = 10
b-- = 11
d++ = 25
++d = 27

THE RELATIONAL OPERATORS

There are following relational operators supported by Java language.

Assume variable A holds 10 and variable B holds 20, then:

Operator Description Example

Checks if the values of two operands are equal or not, if yes then condition
== (A == B) is not true.
becomes true.

!= Checks if the values of two operands are equal or not, if values are not equal (A != B) is true.
 then condition becomes true.

Checks if the value of left operand is greater than the value of right operand, if
> (A > B) is not true.
yes then condition becomes true.

Checks if the value of left operand is less than the value of right operand, if yes
< (A < B) is true.
then condition becomes true.

Checks if the value of left operand is greater than or equal to the value of right
>= (A >= B) is not true.
operand, if yes then condition becomes true.

Checks if the value of left operand is less than or equal to the value of right
<= (A <= B) is true.
operand, if yes then condition becomes true.

Example

The following simple example program demonstrates the relational operators. Copy and paste the following
Java program in Test.java file and compile and run this program. :

public class Test {

public static void main(String args[]) {

int a = 10;
int b = 20;
System.out.println("a == b = " + (a == b) );
System.out.println("a != b = " + (a != b) );
System.out.println("a > b = " + (a > b) );
System.out.println("a < b = " + (a < b) );
System.out.println("b >= a = " + (b >= a) );
System.out.println("b <= a = " + (b <= a) );
}
}

This would produce the following result:

a == b = false
a != b = true
a > b = false
a < b = true
b >= a = true
b <= a = false

THE BITWISE OPERATORS:

Java defines several bitwise operators, which can be applied to the integer types, long, int, short, char, and
byte.

Bitwise operator works on bits and performs bit‐by‐bit operation. Assume if a = 60; and b = 13; now in binary
format they will be a = 0011 1100 and b = 0000 1101.

a&b = 0000 1100

a|b = 0011 1101
a^b = 0011 0001
~a = 1100 0011
The following table lists the bitwise operators. Assume integer variable A holds 60 and variable B holds 13 then:

Operator Description Example

(A & B) will give 12

& Binary AND Operator copies a bit to the result if it exists in both operands.
which is 0000 1100

(A | B) will give 61
| Binary OR Operator copies a bit if it exists in either operand.
which is 0011 1101

(A ^ B) will give 49
^ Binary XOR Operator copies the bit if it is set in one operand but not both.
which is 0011 0001

(~A ) will give -61

which is 1100 0011
~ Binary Ones Complement Operator is unary and has the effect of 'flipping' bits. in 2's complement
form due to a signed
binary number.

Binary Left Shift Operator. The left operands value is moved left by the number A << 2 will give 240
<<
of bits specified by the right operand. which is 1111 0000

Binary Right Shift Operator. The left operands value is moved right by the A >> 2 will give 15
>>
number of bits specified by the right operand. which is 1111

Shift right zero fill operator. The left operands value is moved right by the
A >>>2 will give 15
>>> number of bits specified by the right operand and shifted values are filled up
which is 0000 1111
with zeros.

Example

The following simple example program demonstrates the bitwise operators. Copy and paste the following Java
program in Test.java file and compile and run this program:

public class Test {

public static void main(String args[]) {

int a = 60; /* 60 = 0011 1100 */
int b = 13; /* 13 = 0000 1101 */
int c = 0;

c = a & b; /* 12 = 0000 1100 */

System.out.println("a & b = " + c );

c = a | b; /* 61 = 0011 1101 */
System.out.println("a | b = " + c );

c = a ^ b; /* 49 = 0011 0001 */
System.out.println("a ^ b = " + c );

c = ~a; /*-61 = 1100 0011 */

System.out.println("~a = " + c );

c = a << 2; /* 240 = 1111 0000 */

System.out.println("a << 2 = " + c );

c = a >> 2; /* 215 = 1111 */

 System.out.println("a >> 2 = " + c );

c = a >>> 2; /* 215 = 0000 1111 */

System.out.println("a >>> 2 = " + c );
}
}

This would produce the following result:

a & b = 12
a | b = 61
a ^ b = 49
~a = -61
a << 2 = 240
a >> 15
a >>> 15

THE LOGICAL OPERATORS

The following table lists the logical operators. Assume Boolean variables A holds true and variable B holds false,
then:

Operator Description Example

Called Logical AND operator. If both the operands are non-zero, then the
&& (A && B) is false.
condition becomes true.

Called Logical OR Operator. If any of the two operands are non-zero, then the
|| (A || B) is true.
condition becomes true.

Called Logical NOT Operator. Use to reverses the logical state of its operand.
! !(A && B) is true.
If a condition is true then Logical NOT operator will make false.

Example

The following simple example program demonstrates the logical operators. Copy and paste the following Java
program in Test.java file and compile and run this program:

public class Test {

public static void main(String args[]) {

boolean a = true;
boolean b = false;

System.out.println("a && b = " + (a&&b));

System.out.println("a || b = " + (a||b) );

System.out.println("!(a && b) = " + !(a && b));

}
}
This would produce the following result:

a && b = false
a || b = true
!(a && b) = true

THE ASSIGNMENT OPERATORS

There are following assignment operators supported by Java language:

Operator Description Example

Simple assignment operator, Assigns values from right side operands to left C = A + B will assign
=
side operand value of A + B into C

Add AND assignment operator, It adds right operand to the left operand and C += A is equivalent
+=
assign the result to left operand to C = C + A

Subtract AND assignment operator, It subtracts right operand from the left C -= A is equivalent
-=
operand and assign the result to left operand to C = C - A

Multiply AND assignment operator, It multiplies right operand with the left C *= A is equivalent
*=
operand and assign the result to left operand to C = C * A

Divide AND assignment operator, It divides left operand with the right operand C /= A is equivalent
/=
and assign the result to left operand to C = C / A

Modulus AND assignment operator, It takes modulus using two operands and C %= A is equivalent
%=
assign the result to left operand to C = C % A

C <<= 2 is same as
<<= Left shift AND assignment operator
C = C << 2

C >>= 2 is same as
>>= Right shift AND assignment operator
C = C >> 2

C &= 2 is same as C
&= Bitwise AND assignment operator
=C&2

C ^= 2 is same as C
^= bitwise exclusive OR and assignment operator
=C^2

C |= 2 is same as C
|= bitwise inclusive OR and assignment operator
=C|2

Example

The following simple example program demonstrates the assignment operators. Copy and paste the following
Java program in Test.java file and compile and run this program:

public class Test {

public static void main(String args[]) {

int a = 10;
int b = 20;
int c = 0;

c = a + b;
 System.out.println("c = a + b = " + c );

c += a ;
System.out.println("c += a = " + c );

c -= a ;
System.out.println("c -= a = " + c );

c *= a ;
System.out.println("c *= a = " + c );

a = 10;
c = 15;
c /= a ;
System.out.println("c /= a = " + c );

a = 10;
c = 15;
c %= a ;
System.out.println("c %= a = " + c );

c <<= 2 ;
System.out.println("c <<= 2 = " + c );

c >>= 2 ;
System.out.println("c >>= 2 = " + c );

c >>= 2 ;
System.out.println("c >>= a = " + c );

c &= a ;
System.out.println("c &= 2 = " + c );

c ^= a ;
System.out.println("c ^= a = " + c );

c |= a ;
System.out.println("c |= a = " + c );
}
}

This would produce the following result:

c = a + b = 30
c += a = 40
c -= a = 30
c *= a = 300
c /= a = 1
c %= a = 5
c <<= 2 = 20
c >>= 2 = 5
c >>= 2 = 1
c &= a = 0
c ^= a = 10
 c |= a = 10

MISCELANEOUS OPERATORS

There are few other operators supported by Java Language:

Conditional Operator ( ? : )

Conditional operator is also known as the ternary operator. This operator consists of three operands and is
used to evaluate Boolean expressions. The goal of the operator is to decide which value should be assigned to
the variable. The operator is written as:

variable x = (expression) ? value if true : value if false

EXAMPLE
public class Test {

public static void main(String args[]){

int a , b;
a = 10;
b = (a == 1) ? 20: 30;
System.out.println( "Value of b is : " + b );

b = (a == 10) ? 20: 30;

System.out.println( "Value of b is : " + b );
}
}

This would produce the following result:

Value of b is : 30
Value of b is : 20

instanceOf Operator

NOTE

This is only for documentation purposes.

This operator is used only for object reference variables. The operator checks whether the object is of a
particular type(class type or interface type). The instanceOf operator is wriiten as:

( Object reference variable ) instanceOf (class/interface type)

If the object referred by the variable on the left side of the operator passes the IS‐A check for the
class/interface type on the right side, then the result will be true. Following is the example:

EXAMPLE
 String name = = 'James';
boolean result = name instanceOf String;
// This will return true since name is type of String

This operator will still return true if the object being compared is the assignment compatible with the type on
the right. Following is one more example:

EXAMPLE
class Vehicle {}

public class Car extends Vehicle {

public static void main(String args[]){
Vehicle a = new Car();
boolean result = a instanceof Car;
System.out.println( result);
}
}

This would produce the following result:

true

PRECEDENCE OF JAVA OPERATORS

Operator precedence determines the grouping of terms in an expression. This affects how an expression is
evaluated. Certain operators have higher precedence than others; for example, the multiplication operator has
higher precedence than the addition operator.

Example

For example, x = 7 + 3 * 2; here x is assigned 13, not 20 because operator * has higher precedence than
+, so it first gets multiplied with 3*2 and then adds into 7.

Here, operators with the highest precedence appear at the top of the table, those with the lowest appear at
the bottom. Within an expression, higher precedence operators will be evaluated first.

Category Operator Associativity

Postfix () [] . (dot operator) Left to right

Unary ++ - - ! ~ Right to left

Multiplicative */% Left to right

Additive +- Left to right

Shift >> >>> << Left to right

Relational > >= < <= Left to right

Equality == != Left to right

Bitwise AND & Left to right

Bitwise XOR ^ Left to right

Bitwise OR | Left to right

Logical AND && Left to right

Logical OR || Left to right

Conditional ?: Right to left

Assignment = += -= *= /= %=>> = <<= &= ^= |= Right to left

Comma , Left to right