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Python Assignment Operators

How Python assignment operators like +=, -=, *=, and bitwise operators (&=, |=, ^=) work with practical examples and their equivalents in basic assignment syntax.

Assignment Operators

Assignment operators are used to assign values to variables.

Operator Description Example Equivalent to
= Assign value of right side of expression to left side operand x = 2 x = 2
+= Add right-side operand with left side operand and then assign to left operand x += 2 x = x + 2
-= Subtract right operand from left operand and then assign to left operand x -= 2 x = x - 2
*= Multiply right operand with left operand and then assign to left operand x *= 2 x = x * 2
/= Divide left operand with right operand and then assign to left operand x /= 2 x = x / 2
%= Takes modulus using left and right operands and assign the result to left operand x %= 2 x = x % 2
//= Divide left operand with right operand and then assign the value(floor) to left operand x //= 2 x = x // 2
**= Calculate exponent(raise power) value using operands and assign value to left operand x **= 2 x = x ** 2
&= Performs Bitwise AND on operands and assign value to left operand x &= 2 x = x & 2
&124;= Performs Bitwise OR on operands and assign value to left operand x &124;= 2 x = x &124; 2
^= Performs Bitwise XOR on operands and assign value to left operand x ^= 2 x = x ^ 2
>>= Performs Bitwise right shift on operands and assign value to left operand x >>= 2 x = x >> 2
<<= Performs Bitwise left shift on operands and assign value to left operand x <<= 2 x = x << 2

Examples

Assign

a = 2
b = 3
result = a + b
print(result) # 5

Add and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a += b   # a = a + b
print(a) # 5

Subtract and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a -= b   # a = a - b
print(a) # -1

Multiply and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a *= b   # a = a * b
print(a) # 6

Divide and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a /= b   # a = a / b
print(a) # 0.6666666666666666

Modulus and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a %= b   # a = a % b
print(a) # 2

Divide (floor) and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a //= b  # a = a // b
print(a) # 0

Exponent and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a **= b  # a = a ** b
print(a) # 8

Bitwise AND and Assign

a = 2    # 2 (0010)
b = 3    # 3 (0011)
a &= b   # a = a & b
print(a) # 2 (0010)

Bitwise OR and Assign

a = 2    # 2 (0010)
b = 3    # 3 (0011)
a |= b   # a = a | b
print(a) # 3 (0011)

Bitwise XOR and Assign

a = 2    # 2 (0010)
b = 3    # 3 (0011)
a ^= b   # a = a ^ b
print(a) # 1 (0001)

Bitwise Right Shift and Assign

a = 2    # 2 (0010)
b = 3    # 3 (0011)
a >>= b  # a = a >> b
print(a) # 0 (0000)

Bitwise Left Shift and Assign

a = 2    # 2  (0010)
b = 3    # 3  (0011)
a <<= b  # a = a << b
print(a) # 16 (1000)
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