Bitwise Operators in Python programming language

Bitwise operators in Python programming language are a set of operators that manipulate the individual bits of a value. These operators are used to perform low-level operations with efficiency and precision. Learning the concepts of bitwise operators in Python can help programmers build high-performance, scalable programs, particularly in fields like machine learning, cryptography, and network programming. In this comprehensive tutorial, we will explore the fundamentals of bitwise operations in Python, their applications, and their syntax.

What are Bitwise Operators?

• Bitwise operators are used to perform bitwise operations on integers.
• Integer values are first converted to binary (0s and 1s) before performing bitwise operations.
• This operator operates on operands bit by bit hence the name Bitwise. 
• Bitwise operator returns the result in decimal format.

Different Bitwise operators in Python

• There are 6 bitwise operators in Python
  • Bitwise and operator (&)
  • Bitwise or operator (|)
  • Bitwise xor operator (^)
  • Bitwise not operator (~)
  • Bitwise left-shift operator (<<)
  • Bitwise right-shift operator (>>)

Bitwise and operator in python '&' :

• Bitwise and operator is denoted by the ampersand sign  &  in Python.
• It performs logical AND operation on individual bits of the integer operands.
• It converts an integer to equivalent binary value.
• Then it performs the AND operation on corresponding bits of the operands.
• Return value of bitwise and : 
  • it returns  True  if both the bits are  True .
  • it returns  False  if any one of the bit is  False .
• Return value of bitwise and in terms of binary :
  • it returns  1 if both the bits are  1 .
  • it returns  0 if any one of the bits is  0 .
• It returns the final result as a decimal value. 
• Example :
  • Let us perform bitwise and  &  of two operands  10  and  22 .
  • First 10 is converted to binary i.e.  01010 .
  • Then 22 is converted to binary i.e.  10110 .
  •  and  operation is performed on corresponding bits of the two operands.
    • 0 & 1 = 0
    • 1 & 0 = 0 
    • 0 & 1 = 0
    • 1 & 1 = 1
    • 0 & 0 = 0
    • Hence result =  00010 
  • The final result is converted back to decimal, therefore we get 2 as answer.
• Code Sample : 

x = 10
y = 22
res = x & y
print(res)

# Output
# 2

Bitwise or operator in python '|' :

• Bitwise or operator is denoted by the pipe symbol  |  in Python.
• It performs logical OR operation on individual bits of the integer operands.
• It converts an integer to equivalent binary value.
• Then it performs the OR operation on corresponding bits of the operands.
• Return value of bitwise or : 
  • it returns  False  if both the bits are  False .
  • it returns  True  if any one of the bit is  True .
• Return value of bitwise or in terms of binary :
  • it returns  0 if both the bits are  0 .
  • it returns  1 if any one of the bits is  1 .
• It returns the final result as a decimal value. 
• Example :
  • Let us perform bitwise or  |  of two operands  10  and  22 .
  • First 10 is converted to binary i.e.  01010 .
  • Then 22 is converted to binary i.e.  10110 .
  •  or  operation is performed on corresponding bits of the two operands.
    • 0 | 1 = 1
    • 1 | 0 = 1 
    • 0 | 1 = 1
    • 1 | 1 = 1
    • 0 | 0 = 0
    • Hence result =  11110 
  • The final result is converted back to decimal, therefore we get 30 as answer.
• Code Sample : 

x = 10
y = 22
res = x | y
print(res)

# Output
# 30

Bitwise xor operator in python '^' :

• Bitwise xor operator is denoted by the caret symbol  ^  in Python.
• It performs logical XOR operation on individual bits of the integer operands.
• The word XOR stands for exclusive or. 
• XOR operation means that - 
  •  True  is returned only if one operand is  False  and one operand is  True .
• It converts an integer to equivalent binary value.
• Then it performs the XOR operation on corresponding bits of the operands.
• Return value of bitwise xor : 
  • it returns  False  if both the bits are  False .
  • it returns  False  if both the bits are  True .
  • it returns  True  if any one of the bit is  True  and one bit is  False .
• Return value of bitwise or in terms of binary :
  • it returns  0 if both the bits are  0 .
  • it returns  0 if both the bits are  1 .
  • it returns  1 if any one of the bits is  1  and one bit is  0 
• It returns the final result as a decimal value. 
• Example :
  • Let us perform bitwise xor  ^  of two operands  10  and  22 .
  • First 10 is converted to binary i.e.  01010 .
  • Then 22 is converted to binary i.e.  10110 .
  •  xor  operation is performed on corresponding bits of the two operands.
    • 0 ^ 1 = 1
    • 1 ^ 0 = 1 
    • 0 ^ 1 = 1
    • 1 ^ 1 = 0
    • 0 ^ 0 = 0
    • Hence result =  11100 
  • The final result is converted back to decimal, therefore we get 28 as answer.
• Code Sample : 

x = 10
y = 22
res = x ^ y
print(res)

# Output
# 28

Bitwise not operator in python '~' :

Bitwise left-shift operator in python '<<' :

• Bitwise left shift operator takes two operands.
• first it converts operand-1 to binary.
• Then it shifts the bits of operand-1 to the left by the number of places specified by operand-2.
• A gap is created at the right bits of operand-1 due to shifting.
• This gap is filled with zeros.
• It returns the decimal representation of the resulting binary number.
• Change in value of a number on shifting the bits to the left - 
  • Shifting the bits of any number to the left by one place doubles its value.
  • Shifting the bits of any number to the left by two places multiplies its value by 2 ².
  • Shifting the bits of any number to the left by three places multiplies its value by 2 ³.
  •  n << k = n  *  2 k  
• Example :
  • Let us perform bitwise left shift  <<  with two operands  5  and  2 .
  • First 5 is converted to binary i.e.  101 .
  • bits of the binary number is shifted by  2  places as operand-2 is 2
  • The gap created is filled with zeros.
    • 101 << 2 = 10100
    • Hence result =  10100 
  • The final result is converted back to decimal, therefore we get 20 as answer.
• Code Sample : 

x = 5
y = 2
res = x << y
print(res)

# Output
# 20

Bitwise right-shift operator in python '>>' :

• Bitwise right shift operator takes two operands.
• first it converts operand-1 to binary.
• Then it shifts the bits of operand-1 to the right by the number of places specified by operand-2.
• A gap is created at the left bits of operand-1 due to shifting.
• This gap is filled with zeros.
• The rightmost bits are always dropped.
• It returns the decimal representation of the resulting binary number.
• Change in value of a number on shifting the bits to the right - 
  • Shifting the bits of any number to the right by one place halves its value.
  • Shifting the bits of any number to the right by two places divides its value by 2 ².
  • Shifting the bits of any number to the right by three places divides its value by 2 ³.
  •  n >> k = n  /  2 k  
• Example :
  • Let us perform bitwise right shift  >>  with two operands  50  and  2 .
  • First 50 is converted to binary i.e.  110010 .
  • bits of the binary number is shifted by  2  places as operand-2 is 2
  • The gap created is filled with zeros.
    • 110010 >> 2 = 001100
    • Hence result =  001100 
  • The final result is converted back to decimal, therefore we get 12 as answer.
• Code Sample : 

x = 50
y = 2
res = x >> y
print(res)

# Output
# 12