In C programming, operators are symbols used to perform operations on variables and

values. They are divided into several categories, each serving different purposes. Below is
an explanation of various operators in C with examples.

1. Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic operators are used to perform common mathematical operations like addition,
subtraction, multiplication, etc.

Operator Description Example

+ Addition a + b (adds a and b)

- Subtraction a - b (subtracts b from a)

* Multiplication a * b (multiplies a by b)

/ Division a / b (divides a by b)

% Modulus (Remainder) a % b (gives remainder of a divided by

b)

Example:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int a = 10, b = 3;
printf("Addition: %d\n", a + b); // Output: 13
printf("Subtraction: %d\n", a - b); // Output: 7
printf("Multiplication: %d\n", a * b);// Output: 30
printf("Division: %d\n", a / b); // Output: 3
printf("Modulus: %d\n", a % b); // Output: 1
return 0;
}

2. Relational Operators

Relational operators are used to compare values. The result of a relational operation is
either true (1) or false (0).

Operator Description Example

 == Equal to a == b (checks if a is equal to b)

!= Not equal to a != b (checks if a is not equal to

b)

> Greater than a > b (checks if a is greater than

b)

< Less than a < b (checks if a is less than b)

>= Greater than or equal a >= b

to

<= Less than or equal to a <= b

Example:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int a = 5, b = 10;
printf("a == b: %d\n", a == b); // Output: 0 (false)
printf("a != b: %d\n", a != b); // Output: 1 (true)
printf("a > b: %d\n", a > b); // Output: 0 (false)
printf("a < b: %d\n", a < b); // Output: 1 (true)
return 0;
}

3. Logical Operators

Logical operators are used to combine two or more conditions.

Operator Description Example

&& Logical AND (a > b) && (a

< c)

` `

! Logical NOT !(a == b)

Example:

c
 #include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int a = 5, b = 10;
printf("Logical AND: %d\n", (a < b) && (b > 5)); // Output: 1
(true)
printf("Logical OR: %d\n", (a > b) || (b > 5)); // Output: 1
(true)
printf("Logical NOT: %d\n", !(a == b)); // Output: 1
(true)
return 0;
}

4. Bitwise Operators

Bitwise operators are used to perform bit-level operations on data.

Operator Description Example

& Bitwise AND a & b

` ` Bitwise OR

^ Bitwise XOR a ^ b

~ Bitwise NOT ~a

<< Left Shift a << 2

>> Right Shift a >> 2

Example:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int a = 5, b = 3;
printf("Bitwise AND: %d\n", a & b); // Output: 1
printf("Bitwise OR: %d\n", a | b); // Output: 7
printf("Bitwise XOR: %d\n", a ^ b); // Output: 6
printf("Left Shift: %d\n", a << 1); // Output: 10
printf("Right Shift: %d\n", a >> 1); // Output: 2
 return 0;
}

5. Assignment Operators

Assignment operators are used to assign values to variables.

Operator Description Example

= Assigns right operand to left operand a = b

+= Adds right operand to left operand and assigns the a += b (same as a =

result a + b)

-= Subtracts right operand from left operand a -= b

*= Multiplies and assigns a *= b

/= Divides and assigns a /= b

%= Modulus and assigns a %= b

Example:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int a = 5, b = 3;
a += b; // Equivalent to a = a + b
printf("a += b: %d\n", a); // Output: 8
a -= b; // Equivalent to a = a - b
printf("a -= b: %d\n", a); // Output: 5
return 0;
}

6. Increment and Decrement Operators

These operators are used to increase or decrease the value of a variable by 1.

Operator Descriptio Example

n
 ++ Increment a++ (post-increment), ++a
(pre-increment)

-- Decrement a-- (post-decrement), --a

(pre-decrement)

Example:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int a = 5;
printf("Post-increment: %d\n", a++); // Output: 5 (increment
happens after)
printf("Value after post-increment: %d\n", a); // Output: 6
printf("Pre-increment: %d\n", ++a); // Output: 7 (increment
happens before)
return 0;
}

7. Conditional (Ternary) Operator

The ternary operator is a shorthand for if-else conditions.

Operator Descriptio Example

n

? : Conditional (a > b) ? a : b (returns a if a > b,

otherwise b)

Example:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int a = 5, b = 10;
int max = (a > b) ? a : b; // Find maximum of a and b
printf("Maximum: %d\n", max); // Output: 10
return 0;
}
8. Sizeof Operator

The sizeof operator is used to determine the size of a data type or a variable in bytes.

Example:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int a;
printf("Size of int: %lu\n", sizeof(a)); // Output: 4 (on most
systems)
printf("Size of char: %lu\n", sizeof(char)); // Output: 1
return 0;
}

These are the main operators used in C, each serving a specific role in manipulating data
and controlling program flow.