Python Operators

In this tutorial, you will learn about Python Operators and their types. Also, we will discuss their operational functionalities with examples.

A Python operator is a symbol that tells the interpreter to perform certain mathematical or logical manipulation. In simple terms, we can say Python operators are used to manipulating data and variables. In programming universe, operators represent computations and conditional resemblance.

Python Programming Operators

Python operators can be classified as listed below.

Python Arithmetic Operators

As the name suggests, Arithmetic Operators are used in Arithmetic (Mathematics) operations.

Let’s assume following two variables:

• x = 5
• y = 2

Example demonstrating use of Python Arithmetic operator

Python Relational Operator or Comparison Operator

Relational or Comparison Operators are used to compare the operands on the either side of them.

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Example demonstrating use of Python Relational operator

Python Logical Operators

There are three Python logical operators: and or and not.

Example demonstrating use of Python Logical operator

Python Assignment Operators

As simple as it sounds assignment operators are used for assigning values to variables.

Example demonstrating use of Python Assignment operator

Python Bitwise Operators

Bitwise operators take binary digits as operands and perform bit by bit operations.

Following is the list of bitwise operators supported in Python.

let’s assume:

• a = 5 = 0101 (in binary)
• b = 7 = 0111 (in binary)

Now if we were to use bitwise operator AND (&), it would generate following output.

a&b = 0101 & 0111 = 0101

Explanation: Here bitwise operator performs bit by bit operation. So, if we observe from left most bit, following operation happens.

(1st bit) 0&0 = 0, (2nd bit) 1&1 = 1, (3rd bit) 0&1 = 0, (4th bit) 1&1 = 1

Hence the output: 0101

Here is the list of bitwise operators in Python.

Python Membership Operators

Python membership operator is used to check whether a variable is a member of a sequence such as String, List, Tuple and Dictionary.

Note: In the Python dictionary, we can check the membership of key only, not the value.

Here are the membership operators in Python.

Example demonstrating use of Python Membership operator

Python Identity Operators

Python identity operators are used to check if the operands have identical memory location. In simple language, it compares the memory location of two objects and returns True if both objects have identical or same memory location.

Here are the identity operators in Python.

Example demonstrating use of Python Identity operator

So, these are the Python operators explained above with examples which are used in manipulating data either mathematically or logically.

Now that we have discussed Python operators, let’s learn about how is the precedence of operators in Python.

Precedence of Python Operators

Here is the list of Python Operators in descending order, listing from higher precedence to lower precedence.