Operators are special symbols used to perform various mathematical and logical operations on variables and

symbols known as operands.

The application of operators varies depending on the context. So, it is important to understand how each type
works to use them effectively when programming in C++ language.

Example
int a=10;int b=40;int c= a+b;

Types of Operators in C++

C++ has a wide range of built-in operators that can be classified into various types according to their
functionality.

We can further classify these operators based on the number of operands on which they operate. Now, let us
go through all these operators in detail.

Arithmetic Operators
These operators perform basic mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
We will categorize the arithmetic operators into two categories based on the number of operands and then
look at their functionality.
Type Operator Name of Functionality
Operator
Unary ++ Increment Increases the value by 1
-- Decrement Decreases the value by 1
+ Unary plus No change in the operand value
- Unary minus changes the negative number to the positive
and vice-versa
Binary + Addition Add two values
- Subtraction Subtracts one value from the other
* Multiplication Multiplies two values
/ Division Divides one by the other value
% Modulus Finds the remainder after division

Example to demonstrate Arithmetic Operators in C++

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
// Unary operators
int x = 5, y = 6, z = 7, w = 8;
cout << ++x << endl; // Increments the value of x
cout << --y << endl; // Decrements the value of y
cout << +z << endl; // Unary +
cout << -w << endl; // Unary - on a positive number
cout << -(-w) << endl; // Unary - on a negative number

// Binary operators
int a = 10, b = 3;
int sum = a + b;
int difference = a - b;
int product = a * b;
int quotient = a / b;
int remainder = a % b;

cout << "Sum: " << sum << endl;

cout << "Difference: " << difference << endl;
cout << "Product: " << product << endl;
cout << "Quotient: " << quotient << endl;
cout << "Remainder: " << remainder << endl;

return 0;
}
In the above code in C++ Compiler, we have performed all the arithmetic operations on unary as well as
binary operands.

Output
657
-88
Sum: 13
Difference: 7
Product: 30
Quotient: 3
Remainder: 1

Relational Operators
They are also known as Comparison Operators. They compare the values of the two operands. The result of
the comparison is either true or false. If the comparison is true, it returns 1; If the comparison results in false, it
returns 0. These are known as boolean values.
Operator Name
== Equal to
> Greater than
< Less than
>= Greater than or equal to
<= Less than or equal to
!= Not equal to

Example to demonstrate relational operators in C++

#include <iostream>using namespace std;int main() {
int x = 5;
int y = 3;

cout << (x == y) << endl; // returns 0 (false) because 5 is not equal to 3

cout << (x != y) << endl; // returns 1 (true) because 5 is not equal to 3
cout << (x > y) << endl; // returns 1 (true) because 5 is greater than 3
cout << (x < y) << endl; // returns 0 (false) because 5 is not less than 3
cout << (x >= y) << endl; // returns 1 (true) because 5 is greater than or
equal to 3
cout << (x <= y) << endl; // returns 0 (false) because 5 is not less than
or equal to 3

return 0;
}
Run Code >>

The above code performs all the comparison operations and returns the result in boolean values.

Output
011010

Logical Operators
They are used to combine two or more conditions/constraints. It returns either 0 or 1 depending upon whether
the expression results in true or false. If the result is true, it returns 1 else returns 0.
The logical operators are used in decision-making and looping statements.
We will categorize the logical operators into two categories based on the number of operands and then look at
their functionality.

Type Operator Name Functionality

Binary && Logical returns 1(true) if both the expressions/values are
 AND true.
|| Logical OR returns 1(true) if one of the expressions/values
evaluates to true.
Unary != Logical Negates the expression and returns 1 or 0.
NOT

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
int a = 1, b = 0;

if (a && b)
{
cout << "Both a and b are true (non-zero)" << endl;
} else {
cout << "At least one of a or b is false (zero)" << endl;
}

if (a || b)
{
cout << "At least one of a or b is true (non-zero)" << endl;
} else {
cout << "Both a and b are false (zero)" << endl;
}

if (!b)
{ // value of b becomes 1
cout << "b is false (zero)" << endl;
} else {
cout << "b is true (non-zero)" << endl;
}

return 0;
}
Run Code >>

The above code performs all three logical operations on a and b i.e. 1 and 0 respectively.

Output
At least one of a or b is false (zero)
At least one of a or b is true (non-zero)
b is false (zero)

Bitwise Operators
These operators work on individual bits. The operands are first converted into bits i.e. 0 or 1, and then the
calculation is performed on them.
We will categorize the bitwise operators into two categories based on the number of operands and then look at
their functionality.
Type Operator Name
Unary ~ One's complement or Bitwise Complement
<< Left Shift
>> Right Shift
Binary & Bitwise AND
| Bitwise OR
^ Bitwise Exclusive OR or XOR

Assignment Operators
These are used to assign values to the variables. The most fundamental assignment operator is =.

Example to demonstrate assignment operators in C++

#include <iostream>using namespace std;int main() {
int x;
x = 10; // Assigning the value 10 to x
cout << "The value of x is: " << x << endl;
return 0;
}
Run Code >>

Output
The value of x is: 10
The following table shows some variants of the assignment operator, “=”.
Operator Example Same as
= x=y x=y
+= x+=y x=x+y
-= x-=y x=x-y
*= x*=y x=x*y
/= x/=y x=x/y
%= x%=y x=x%y
&= x&=y x=x&y
|= x|=y x=x|y
^= x^=y x=x^y
>>= x>>=y x=x>>y
<<= x<<=y x=x<<y

Conditional Operator
This is also called a ternary operator. It works on three operands. The ternary operator is used to execute a
set of statements when the test expression is true and another set of statements when the test expression
evaluates to false.

Syntax
testexpression? expression1 : expression 2;
Here, the testexpression results in a boolean value i.e. 0(true) or 1(false). If
the testexpression evaluates to:

 True: expression1 before the colon(:) executes

 False: expression2 after the colon(:) executes

Example to demonstrate conditional operator in C++ Online Editor

#include <iostream>using namespace std;int main() {
int a = 5;
int b = 10;
int max = (a > b) ? a : b;
cout << "The maximum value is: " << max << endl;
return 0;
}
Run Code >>

Output
The maximum value is: 10

Miscellaneous Operators
Operator Description Example
sizeof returns the size of the data type sizeof(int); // 4
& represents the memory address of the operand &a; // address of
a
. accesses members of struct variables or class obj.print();
objects
-> used with pointers to access the class or struct ptr->marks = 70;
variables
<< prints the output value cout << 7;
>> gets the input value cin >> a;

Precedence of Operators in C++

Operator precedence and associativity help us to determine which operators will be given priority when there
are multiple operators in the expression. It is the grouping of terms in an expression and decides how an
expression should be evaluated.
Category Operator Associativity
Postfix () [] ->. ++ - - Left to right
Unary + - ! ~ ++ - - (type)* & sizeof Right to left
Multiplicative * / % Left to right
Additive +- Left to right
Shift << >> Left to right
Relational < <= > >= Left to right
Equality == != Left to right
Bitwise AND & Left to right
Bitwise XOR ^ Left to right
Bitwise OR | Left to right
Logical AND && Left to right
Logical OR || Left to right
Conditional ?: Right to left
Assignment = += -= *= /= %=>>= <<= &= ^= |= Right to left
Comma , Left to right