Python Operators

Unlock the Power of Python Operators: A Complete Guide

Python operators are the backbone of any Python code, helping you perform a wide range of tasks—from basic arithmetic to more complex operations like bitwise manipulation. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced developer, understanding these operators is crucial to mastering Python. In this cheat sheet, we’ll break down all of Python’s operators, providing you with examples and explanations so you can use them confidently in your projects.

Table of Contents:

• Arithmetic Operators
• Assignment Operators
• Comparison Operators
• Logical Operators
• Identity Operators
• Membership Operators
• Bitwise Operators
• Operator Precedence

If you’re just starting your Python journey, our Python Basics Track is an excellent place to build a strong foundation. With nearly 40 hours of content, it covers everything you need to know about Python operators and much more.

What Are Python Operators?

Python operators are special symbols or keywords that perform specific actions on variables or values. These actions can range from simple mathematical calculations to more complex logical or bitwise operations.

How Do Python Operators Work?

Operators in Python are essential for manipulating data and directing the flow of your code. By understanding and applying these operators, you can write more efficient and effective code.

In essence, an operator takes two elements—known as operands—and combines them in a specific way. For example, in the expression A + B, the + operator adds the two operands, returning their sum.

Python Arithmetic Operators

Operator	Description	Example	Result
+	Addition	2 + 3	5
-	Subtraction	5 - 2	3
*	Multiplication	4 * 6	24
/	Division	11 / 4	2.75
//	Floor Division	11 // 4	2
%	Modulus (remainder)	11 % 4	3
**	Exponentiation (power)	2 ** 3	8

Python Assignment Operators

Operator	Description	Example	Equivalent Operation
=	Assign a value	x = 5	N/A
+=	Add and assign	x += 3	x = x + 3
-=	Subtract and assign	x -= 2	x = x - 2
*=	Multiply and assign	x *= 4	x = x * 4
/=	Divide and assign	x /= 2	x = x / 2
%=	Modulo and assign	x %= 3	x = x % 3
//=	Floor divide & assign	x //= 2	x = x // 2
**=	Exponentiate & assign	x **= 2	x = x ** 2

Python Comparison Operators

Operator	Description	Example	Result
==	Equal to	5 == 5	True
!=	Not equal to	5 != 3	True
>	Greater than	7 > 3	True
<	Less than	3 < 7	True
>=	Greater than or equal to	5 >= 5	True
<=	Less than or equal to	3 <= 5	True

Python Logical Operators

Operator	Description	Example	Result
and	Logical AND	(5 > 3) and (8 > 5)	True
or	Logical OR	(5 > 3) or (8 < 5)	True
not	Logical NOT	not (5 > 3)	False

Python Identity Operators

Operator	Description	Example	Result
is	Identity (same object)	5 is 5	True
is not	Not identity (different object)	5 is not 3	True

Python Membership Operators

Operator	Description	Example	Result
in	Membership (element in container)	3 in [1, 2, 3]	True
not in	Not membership (element not in container)	4 not in [1, 2, 3]	True

Python Bitwise Operators

Operator	Description	Example	Result
&	Bitwise AND	5 & 3	1
|	Bitwise OR	5 | 3	7
^	Bitwise XOR	5 ^ 3	6
~	Bitwise NOT	~5	-6
<<	Bitwise left shift	5 << 1	10
>>	Bitwise right shift	5 >> 1	2

Operator Precedence in Python

Operator precedence determines the order in which operators are evaluated in an expression. For example, in the expression 3 + 4 * 2, multiplication is performed before addition, resulting in 11. Understanding operator precedence is crucial for writing accurate and efficient code.

Here's a quick overview of Python's operator precedence:

Operator	Description
**	Exponentiation
* / // %	Multiplication, Division, Floor Division, Modulus
+ -	Addition, Subtraction
< > <= >=	Comparison operators
not and or	Logical operators