Java Operator: A Complete Guide

Java Operators comprise  symbols that make the compiler or interpreter perform particular operations like mathematical, relational, or logical ones. Depending on its type, an operator can manipulate an arithmetic and logical value or an operand in a particular way to generate a particular result. Operators in Java play an essential role in handling the simplest arithmetic functions to the execution of complex algorithms. 

Table of Contents 

1) What are the Java Operators? 

1) Different types of Operators in Java 

    a) Unary Operators 

    b) Arithmetic Operators 

    c) Shift Operators 

    d) Relational Operators 

    e) Bitwise Operators 

    f) Logical Operators 

   g) Ternary Operators 

   h) Assignment Operators 

2) Advantages of Operators in Java

3) Disadvantages of Operators in Java

4) Conclusion 

What are the Java Operators?

A set of values in Java can undergo operations using Java Operators, which fall into three categories: unary, binary, and ternary operators. Unary operators involve a single digit, binary operators entail two digits, and ternary operators consist of three digits. 

More importantly, Java Operators are symbols designed to execute operations on variables, facilitating the manipulation of operand values. The diverse Java Operators serve different purposes in performing various functions.

For instance, the negation operator '!' exemplifies a unary Java operator. On the other hand, subtraction serves as a binary Java operator since it necessitates two operands (a - b). The sole ternary Java operator is the conditional operator, operating on the if-then-else principle:

( ) ? OutputValueTrue : OutputValueFalse;

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Different types of Operators in Java 
 

Java as a programming language consists of many operators that can be used accordingly when the need arises. The classification or types of operators in Java is based on the functionality they provide. Some of the types of operators are listed and discussed in detail below: 

Unary Operators 

These operators need only one operand to increase, decrease, and negate a value. The different types of Unary Operators are given below: 

a) Unary minus (-): It converts positive values to negative ones.  

b) Unary plus (+): This operator indicates the positive value (by default, the numbers are positive without this sign). An automatic conversion to int is performed by this operator when the operand type is byte, char, or short. This is termed as a unary numeric promotion. 

c) Increment Operator (++): It is an operator that is used to increase the value by one. There are two types of increment operators.

          Post-Increment: It is used for computing first, and the result is then incremented.
          Pre-Increment: The value is first incremented, and the result is then computed. 

d) Decrement Operator (--): It is an operator that is used to decrease the value by one. There are two types of increment operators.
           Post-Increment: It is used for computing first, and the result is then decremented.
           Pre-Increment: The value is first decremented, and the result is then computed. 

e) Logical Not Operator (!): This operator is used for inverting a Boolean value. 

Arithmetic Operators 

Arithmetic Operators are used for computing mathematical expressions, using two operands to perform arithmetic operations on Primitive Data Types. The different types of Arithmetic Operators are discussed below: 

a) Addition (+): It adds operands on either side of the operator.  

b) Subtraction (-): It subtracts the right-hand operand from the left-hand operand. 

c) Multiplication (*): It multiplies operands on either side of the operator. 

d) Division (/): It divides the left-hand value by the right-hand value and gives the result as a quotient. 

e) Modulus (%): This operator also divides the left-hand value and the right-hand value, but the difference to the division operator is that it returns the result as a remainder. 

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Shift Operators 

This type of operator is used to shift the bits of a number to the left or right, resulting in the multiplication or division of the number by two, respectively. Different types of shift operators are discussed below: 

a) Left shift operator (<<): This operator shifts the bits of the number to the left and, as a result, fills up zero as a value on the voids left. The effects are similar when multiplying the number with some power of two. 

b) Signed Right shift operator (>>): This operator moves some of the numbers to the right and, as a result, fills up zero as a value on the voids left. The leftmost bit is dependent on the sign of the initial number. The effects are similar when           dividing the number with some power of two. 

c) Unsigned Right shift operator (>>>>): This operator moves some of the numbers to the right and, as a result, fills up zero as a value on the voids left. The leftmost bit is set to 0. 

Relational Operators 



 

Relational Operators are needed to check for relations like equal-to, greater than, or less than. The result after the comparison is generally a Boolean value, and these operators are used in looping statements and conditional if-else statements. Some of the relational operators are discussed below: 

a) Equal to (==): It evaluates if the expression on the left side is equal to the right side. 

b) Not Equal to (!=): This operator will evaluate to true if the expression on the left-hand side is equal to the right-hand side. 

c) Less than (<): It evaluates to true if the left-hand side of the equation is less than the right-hand side.  

d) Less than or equal to (<=): It evaluates to true if the left-hand side of the equation is less than or equal to the right-hand side. 

e) Greater than (>): It evaluates to true if the left-hand side of the equation is greater than the right-hand side. 

f) Greater than or equal to (>=): It evaluates to true if the left-hand side of the equation is greater than or equal to the right-hand side. 

Bitwise Operators 

Java has several Bitwise operators that work on bits and perform bit-by-bit operations. These operators are applied to the integer types long, short, int, char, and byte. The following Bitwise operators are discussed below:  

1) Bitwise AND (&): This operator works by copying a bit to the result if it exists in both operands.  

2) Bitwise OR (|): This operator works by copying bit by bit to the result if it exists in either of the operands.   

3) Bitwise XOR (^): This operator works by copying bit by bit, if it is set in one operand but not both  

4) Bitwise Compliment (~): This operator has the effect of flipping bits as the Binary Ones Complement Operator is unary. 

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Logical Operators 

Logical Operators in Java are used to perform "Logical AND" and "Logical OR" operations, similar to an AND gate and OR gate in digital electronics. It is used extensively to test several conditions before coming to a decision. The different Logical Operators are:    

a) Logical AND (&&): This operator outputs a True only if both conditions are true. 

b) Logical OR (||): This operator outputs a True if at least one or both conditions are true. 

c) Logical NOT (!):  When a condition is False, this operator returns True and vice versa. 

Ternary Operators 

This Java operator is an alternative version of the "if-else" statement with three operands, which is why the name ternary is given to it. The general format is represented by:  

Condition ? If true : if false  

The above format means that if the condition is true, the statement after the '?' is executed, or else the statement after the ':' is executed. 

 Assignment Operators 

The function of the Assignment operator is to assign a value to any variable that is defined. It has associativity from right to left, where a value present on the right-hand side of the operator is allocated to the variable on the left. In several cases, the assignment operator can be combined with different operators, resulting in a shorter statement version. The various Assignment operators are: 

a) +=: It is used for adding the left operand to the right operand and then assigning the value to the variable on the left.  

b) -=: It is used for subtracting the right operand from the left one and then assigning the value to the variable on the left.  

c) *=: It is used for multiplying the left operand with the right one and then assigning the value to the variable on the left.  

d) /=: It is used to divide the left operand by the right operand and then assign the quotient value to the variable on the left.  

e) %=: It is used for dividing the left operand to the right operand and then assigning the value of the remainder to the variable on the left. 



 

Advantages of Operators in Java

Operators in Java offer numerous advantages, enhancing the language's functionality and expressiveness. They facilitate arithmetic operations, enabling the manipulation of numeric data with ease. 

Moreover, logical operators aid in creating conditional statements, pivotal for decision-making in programs. Relational operators compare values, supporting the formulation of meaningful comparisons in control structures. 

Assignment operators streamline variable assignments, promoting concise code. Bitwise operators enable efficient manipulation of individual bits in binary data. Moreover, Java boasts the ternary operator for concise conditional expressions.

Collectively, these operators empower developers to write efficient, readable, and expressive code, fostering the creation of robust and dynamic Java applications.

Disadvantages of Operators in Java

The drawbacks of Java Operators stem from their essential role in executing operations. Primarily, the potential for unintended side effects arises due to the direct modification of variables, introducing challenging-to-trace bugs. 

Furthermore, operator overloading may lead to ambiguity and compromise code readability. Precision problems can occur in complex mathematical computations, affecting result accuracy. The increment/decrement operators can create post or pre-increment pitfalls, impacting program logic. Lastly, misuse of bitwise operators, particularly by those unfamiliar with their intricacies, may yield unexpected outcomes, introducing potential vulnerabilities. 

Overall, while operators are crucial, understanding their nuances and potential pitfalls is vital to writing robust and bug-free Java code.

Conclusion 

After reading this blog, you will be aware on the types of Java Operators that are present and learn how to use each of these operators to evaluate arithmetic or logical functions. 

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