Python Operator – Types of

Operators in Python
by DataFlair Team · Published December 21, 2017 · Updated March 16, 2019

1. Python Operator – Objective

In this Python Operator tutorial, we will discuss what is an operator in Python
Programming Language. On the other hand, we will learn different types of Python
Operators:  Arithmetic,  Relational,  Assignment, Logical, Membership, Identity, and
Bitwise Operators with their syntax and examples.

Python operator is a symbol that performs an operation on one or more operands. An

operand is a variable or a value on which we perform the operation.

Before starting with operators in python, let us revise the basics of Python.

So, let’s start the Python Operator Tutorial.

Python Operator – Types of Operators in Python

2. Introduction to Python Operator

Python Operator falls into 7 categories:

 Python Arithmetic Operator

 Python Relational Operator
 Python Assignment Operator
  Python Logical Operator
 Python Membership Operator
 Python Identity Operator
 Python Bitwise Operator

Let us revise syntax in python before we start with the operator in Python. Also, it is
recommended to revise variable types in Python for proper programming.

3. Python Arithmetic Operator

These Python arithmetic operators include Python operators for basic mathematical
operations.
Arithmetic Operators in Python

Recommended Reading – Python Operator Overloading

a. Addition(+)

Adds the values on either side of the operator.

1. >>> 3+4
Output: 7

b. Subtraction(-)

Subtracts the value on the right from the one on the left.

1. >>> 3-4

Output: -1

c. Multiplication(*)

Multiplies the values on either side of the operator.

1. >>> 3*4

Output: 12

d. Division(/)

Divides the value on the left by the one on the right. Notice that division results in a
floating-point value.

1. >>> 3/4

Output: 0.75

e. Exponentiation(**)

Raises the first number to the power of the second.

1. >>> 3**4

Output: 81
We recommend you to learn about Python Operator Precedence

f. Floor Division(//)

Divides and returns the integer value of the quotient. It dumps the digits after the
decimal.

1. >>> 3//4
2. >>> 4//3

Output: 1

1. >>> 10//3

Output: 3

g. Modulus(%)

Divides and returns the value of the remainder.

1. >>> 3%4

Output: 3

1. >>> 4%3

Output: 1

1. >>> 10%3

Output: 1

1. >>> 10.5%3

Output: 1.5

If you face any query in Python Operator with examples, ask us in the comment.

4. Python Relational Operator

Let’s see Python Relational Operator.
Relational Operators in Python

Relational Python Operator carries out the comparison between operands. They tell
us whether an operand is greater than the other, lesser, equal, or a combination of
those.

a. Less than(<)

This operator checks if the value on the left of the operator is lesser than the one on
the right.
 1. >>> 3<4

Output: True

b. Greater than(>)

It checks if the value on the left of the operator is greater than the one on the right.

1. >>> 3>4

Output: False

c. Less than or equal to(<=)

It checks if the value on the left of the operator is lesser than or equal to the one on the
right.

1. >>> 7<=7

Output: True

d. Greater than or equal to(>=)

It checks if the value on the left of the operator is greater than or equal to the one on
the right.

1. >>> 0>=0

Output: True

e. Equal to(= =)

This operator checks if the value on the left of the operator is equal to the one on the
right. 1 is equal to the Boolean value True, but 2 isn’t. Also, 0 is equal to False.

You must read about Python Decision Making

1. >>> 3==3.0

Output: True

1. >>> 1==True
Output: True

1. >>> 7==True

Output: False

1. >>> 0==False

Output: True

1. >>> 0.5==True

Output: False

f. Not equal to(!=)

It checks if the value on the left of the operator is not equal to the one on the right.
The Python operator <> does the same job, but has been abandoned in Python 3.

When the condition for a relative operator is fulfilled, it returns True. Otherwise, it
returns False. You can use this return value in a further statement or expression.

1. >>> 1!=-1.0

Output: False

1. >>> -1<>-1.0

#This causes a syntax error

Beneficial to learn – Python Numbers

5. Python Assignment Operator

Assignment Operators in Python

Assignment Python Operator explained –

An assignment operator assigns a value to a variable. It may manipulate the value by a

factor before assigning it. We have 8 assignment operators- one plain, and seven for
the 7 arithmetic python operators.

a. Assign(=)
Assigns a value to the expression on the left. Notice that = = is used for comparing,
but = is used for assigning.

1. >>> a=7
2. >>> print(a)

Output: 7

b. Add and Assign(+=)

Adds the values on either side and assigns it to the expression on the left. a+=10 is the
same as a=a+10.

The same goes for all the next assignment operators.

1. >>> a+=2
2. >>> print(a)

Output: 9

c. Subtract and Assign(-=)

Subtracts the value on the right from the value on the left. Then it assigns it to the
expression on the left.

1. >>> a-=2
2. >>> print(a)

Output: 7

d. Divide and Assign(/=)

Divides the value on the left by the one on the right. Then it assigns it to the
expression on the left.

1. >>> a/=7
2. >>> print(a)

Output: 1.0

e. Multiply and Assign(*=)

Multiplies the values on either sides. Then it assigns it to the expression on the left.
Recommended Reading – Python Range Function

1. >>> a*=8
2. >>> print(a)

Output: 8.0

f. Modulus and Assign(%=)

Performs modulus on the values on either side. Then it assigns it to the expression on
the left.

1. >>> a%=3
2. >>> print(a)

Output: 2.0

g. Exponent and Assign(**=)

Performs exponentiation on the values on either side. Then assigns it to the expression
on the left.

1. >>> a**=5
2. >>> print(a)

Output: 32.0

h. Floor-Divide and Assign(//=)

Performs floor-division on the values on either side. Then assigns it to the expression
on the left.

1. >>> a//=3
2. >>> print(a)

Output: 10.0

This is one of the important Python Operator.

Know more about Python Namespace and Variable Scope

6. Python Logical Operator

These are conjunctions that you can use to combine more than one condition. We
have three Python logical operator – and, or, and not that come under python
operators.

Logical Operators in Python

a. and

If the conditions on both the sides of the operator are true, then the expression as a
whole is true.
 1. >>> a=7>7 and 2>-1
2. >>> print(a)

Output: False

b. or

The expression is false only if both the statements around the operator are false.
Otherwise, it is true.

1. >>> a=7>7 or 2>-1

2. >>> print(a)

Output: True

‘and’ returns the first False value or the last value; ‘or’ returns the first True value or
the last value

1. >>> 7 and 0 or 5

Output: 5

c. not

This inverts the Boolean value of an expression. It converts True to False, and False
to True. As you can see below, the Boolean value for 0 is False. So, not inverts it to
True.

1. >>> a=not(0)
2. >>> print(a)

Output: True

7. Membership Python Operator

These operators test whether a value is a member of a sequence. The sequence may
be a list, a string, or a tuple. We have two membership python operators- ‘in’ and
‘not in’.

a. in
This checks if a value is a member of a sequence. In our example, we see that the
string ‘fox’ does not belong to the list pets. But the string ‘cat’ belongs to it, so it
returns True. Also, the string ‘me’ is a substring to the string ‘disappointment’.
Therefore, it returns true.

Must Read – Python Tuples vs Lists

1. >>> pets=[‘dog’,’cat’,’ferret’]
2. >>> ‘fox’ in pets

Output: False

1. >>> ‘cat’ in pets

Output: True

1. >>> ‘me’ in ‘disappointment’

Output: True

b. not in

Unlike ‘in’, ‘not in’ checks if a value is not a member of a sequence.

1. >>> ‘pot’ not in ‘disappointment’

Output: True

Learn: Loops in Python with Syntax and Examples

In doubt yet in any Python operator with examples? Please comment.

8. Python Identity Operator

Let us proceed towards identity Python Operator.

These operators test if the two operands share an identity. We have two identity
operators- ‘is’ and ‘is not’.

a. is
If two operands have the same identity, it returns True. Otherwise, it returns False.
Here, 2 is not the same as 20, so it returns False. Also, ‘2’ and “2” are the same. The
difference in quotes does not make them different. So, it returns True.

1. >>> 2 is 20

Output: False

1. >>> ‘2’ is “2”

Output: True

b. is not

2 is a number, and ‘2’ is a string. So, it returns a True to that.

1. >>> 2 is not ‘2’

Output: True

Take a visit to Python Switch

9. Python Bitwise Operator

Let us now look at Bitwise Python Operator.
Bitwise Operators in Python

On the operands, these operate bit by bit.

a. Binary AND(&)

It performs bit by bit AND operation on the two values. Here, binary for 2 is 10, and
that for 3 is 11. &-ing them results in 10, which is binary for 2. Similarly, &-ing
011(3) and 100(4) results in 000(0).
 1. >>> 2&3

Output: 2

1. >>> 3&4

Output: 0

b. Binary OR(|)

It performs bit by bit OR on the two values. Here, OR-ing 10(2) and 11(3) results in
11(3).

1. >>> 2|3

Output: 3

c. Binary XOR(^)

It performs bit by bit XOR(exclusive-OR) on the two values. Here, XOR-ing 10(2)
and 11(3) results in 01(1).

1. >>> 2^3

Output: 1

d. Binary One’s Complement(~)

It returns the one’s complement of a number’s binary. It flips the bits. Binary for 2 is
00000010. Its one’s complement is 11111101. This is binary for -3. So, this results in
-3. Similarly, ~1 results in -2.

1. >>>~-3

Output: 2

Again, one’s complement of -3 is 2.

e. Binary Left-Shift(<<)

It shifts the value of the left operand the number of places to the left that the right
operand specifies. Here, binary of 2 is 10. 2<<2 shifts it two places to the left. This
results in 1000, which is binary for 8.
 1. >>> 2<<2

Output: 8

f. Binary Right-Shift(>>)

It shifts the value of the left operand the number of places to the right that the right
operand specifies. Here, binary of 3 is 11. 3>>2 shifts it two places to the right. This
results in 00, which is binary for 0. Similarly, 3>>1 shifts it one place to the right.
This results in 01, which is binary for 1.

1. >>> 3>>2
2. >>> 3>>1

Output: 1

This was all about the Python Operator Tutorial.

Recommended – Python Functions with Syntax and Examples

10. Conclusion – Python Operator

Finally, in this lesson, we looked at seven different classes of Python operator. We
executed them in the Python Shell(IDLE) to find out how they work. We can further
use this operator in conditions, and to combine them. Go ahead and practice some
combinations. So start with Python installation first.
Hope you like the Python Operator tutorial by DataFlair. If you have any queries on
Python operator, please leave a comment.

You must check – 

Python Ternary Operators