C Operators

An operator is a symbol that is used to perform certain mathematical or logical manipulations. There are following types of operators in C programming language:

  • Arithmatic operators
  • Relational operators
  • Logical operators
  • Assignment operators
  • Increment and decrement operators
  • Conditional operators
  • Bitwise operators
  • Special operators


Arithmatic Operators

Operator Description Example
+ Addition 2+3 = 5
- Subtraction 10-5 = 5
* Multiplication 2*5 = 10
/ Division 10/2 = 5
% Modulus 11%5 = 1



Relational Operators

Operator Description Example
== Is equal to a == b is not true
!= Not equal to a == b is true
> Greater than a>b is not true
< Less than a<b is true
>= Greater than or equal to a>=b is not true
<= Less than or equal to a<=b is true



Logical Operators

Operator Description Example
&& Logical AND 5==5 && 7==9 is false
|| Logical OR 5==5 || 7==9 is true
! Logical Not !(7==9) is true



Assignment Operators

Operator Description Example
= Assign the values from right side operand to the left side operand a = 5
+= Add the values of right operand to the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand a += 5 is equivalent to a = a+5
-= Subtract the values of right operand to the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand a -= 5 is equivalent to a = a-5
*= Multiply the values of right operand to the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand a *= 5 is equivalent to a = a*5
/= Divide the values of right operand to the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand a /= 5 is equivalent to a = a/5
%= Take the modulus value using two operands and assigns the result to the left operand. a %= 5 is equivalent to a = a%5



Increment and decrement Operators

Operator Description Example
++ Increment a++ (it increases the value of variable a by one)
-- Decrement a-- (it decreases the value of variable a by one)



Conditional Operator

Operator Description Example
?: Conditional expression exp1 ? exp2 : exp3 (where exp1, exp2, exp3 are expressions)



Bitwise Operators

Operator Description Example
& Bitwise AND 3==5 & 7==9 is false
| Bitwise OR 3==5 || 7==9 is false
^ Bitwise XOR 3==5 ^ 7==9 is false
~ Bitwise NOT (~2) = -2
<< Bitwise Left Shift (10<<2) = 40
>> Bitwise Right Shift (10>>2) = 2



Special Operators

Operator Description
?: Conditional Operator returns value based on the condition.
sizeof() Returns the size of a variable.
* Pointer to a variable.
& Returns the address of a variable.