Operators are symbols, which guide the compiler to perform a specific task on given values. For example +,-,* are operators for the mathematical task. C language has a rich set of operators, we will discuss in detail here.

Types of Operators in C

C language has different types of Operators for different tasks.

1. Unary Operator
2. Binary Operator
3. Ternary Operator
4. Bitwise Operator
5. Special Operator

Unary Operators in C

A Unary operator in C is an operator with a single operand in an expression or statement. It increases (++) or decreases (‐‐) the value of a variable by one.

• Prefix
• Postfix

prefix – When Operator is before the variable, it is called prefix. First, it increases the value, then assigns it to a variable or statement.

Example 1: pre-increment or prefix example in C.

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int a=10,b;
	b=++a;
	printf("\nB=%d",b);
	printf("\nA=%d",a);
return 0;
}

Output :
B=11
A=11

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postfix – When the Operator is after the variable, it is called postfix. First, it assigns the value to a variable or statement, then it increases or decreases the value of a variable by 1.

Example 2: Post increment or postfix example in C.

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int a=10,b;
	b=a++;
	printf("\nB=%d",b);
	printf("\nA=%d",a);
return 0;
}

Output :
B=10
A=11

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Binary Operators in C

Binary operators require two operands in an expression. After execution it returns a result, you need to carry in other variables or statements.

• Arithmetic Operator (Mathematical Operator)
• Assignment Operator
• Relational Operator (Comparison Operator)
• Logical Operator

Arithmetic Operator (Mathematical Operator)

Operator	Description
+	For Addition
–	For Subtraction
*	Multiplication
/	Divison
%	Remainder of Division (modulus)

Example 3: Arithmetic Operation Example in C.

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int a=25,b=10,c=0;
	c=a+b;
	printf("\nSum=%d",c);
	c=a-b;
	printf("\nSubtract=%d",c);
	c=a*b;
	printf("\nMultiply=%d",c);
	c=a/b;
	printf("\nDivison=%d",c);
	c=a%b;
	printf("\nRemainder=%d",c);

return 0;
}

OutPut :
Sum=35
Subtract=15
Multiply=250
Divison=2
Remainder=5

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Assignment Operator

Assignment Operator assigns values from right side operands to left side operand

Operator	Example
=	a=5, 5 assign to variable a
+=	a=a+b can also write as a+=b
-=	a=a-b can also write as a-=b
*=	a=a*b can also write as a*=b
/=	a=a/b can also write as a/=b
%=	a=a%b can also write as a%=b

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Relational Operator (Comparison Operator)

The Relational operator checks the relation or compares two operands and returns Boolean value as a result.

Operator	Description
<	Less then
>	Greater then
<=	Less then or Equal
>=	Greater then or equal
==	Equal to
!=	Not equal to

Example 4: Relational Operator example in C.

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int a=25,b=10;

	printf("\nA < b  = %d",a<b);
	printf("\nA > b  = %d",a>b);
	printf("\nA <= b = %d",a<=b);
	printf("\nA >= b = %d",a>=b);
	printf("\nA == b = %d",a==b);
	printf("\nA != b = %d",a!=b);

return 0;
}

If True then result is 1
If False then result is 0
Ouput :
A < b = 0
A > b = 1
A <= b = 0
A >= b = 1
A == b = 0
A != b = 1

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Logical Operators

Logical operators in C are used to combine relational expression and return boolean value as a result. Before we start, keep in mind that all non zero values are considered as true (1) and zero as false in C language. There are three types of logical operators,

Operator	Name	Description
&&	Logical AND	Return TRUE if all expression is true, otherwise FALSE.
||	Logical OR	Return TRUE if all or any one expression is true, otherwise FALSE.
!	Logical NOT	Reverse the state of the expression(TRUE expression to False and FALSE to TRUE).

Example 5 : Logical operator example in C.

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int n=5,ans;
	ans=n>0 && n<100;
	printf("\nResult = %d",ans);
	//Result is 1, because both expression is true
	ans=n>50 && n<100;
	printf("\nResult = %d",ans);
	//Result is 0, because one expression is false

	ans=n>0 || n<100;
	printf("\nResult = %d",ans);
	//Result is 1, because both expression is true
	ans=n>50 || n<100;
	printf("\nResult = %d",ans);
	//Result is 1, because at least one expression is true

	ans=!(n>0);
	printf("\nResult = %d",ans);
	//Result is 0, because not reverse the state of expression
	ans=!(n>50);
	printf("\nResult = %d",ans);
	//Result is 1, because not reverse the state of expression
return 0;
}

output :
Result : 1
Result = 0
Result = 1
Result = 1
Result = 0
Result = 1

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Ternary Operator in C (Conditional Operator)

A Ternary operator in C also known as a conditional operator. It uses three operands, so, it is called ternary. It works based on three parts, condition, true and false.

Syntax:
Condition ? expression 1 : expression 2

• ? is a ternary operator
• expression 1 executed, when the condition is true.
• expression 2 executed, when the condition is false.

Example 6: Conditional operator in C, to check number is Even or Odd.

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
	int n;
	printf("\nEnter a number");
	scanf("%d",&n);
	(n%2==0) ? printf("Even") : printf("Odd");
return 0;
}

Output :
Enter a number 23
Odd

Bitwise Operators in C

Bitwise operators in C are used to work with binary numbers. Decimal numbers are converted into binary first, then bitwise operator works on each bit.

Operators	Description
&	Bitwise AND
|	Bitwise OR
^	Bitwise XOR
~	Bitwise Complement
<<	Left Shift
>>	Right Shift

Example 7: Bitwise Operator example in C.

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
	int a=11, b=3;
	printf("\nBitwise And : %d",a & b);
	// 00001011 & 00000011, result 00000011 ( 3 as Decimal) 
	printf("\nBitwise Or : %d",a | b);
	// 00001011 | 00000011, result 00001011 ( 11 as Decimal)
	printf("\nBitwise XOR : %d",a ^ b);
	// 00001011 ^ 00000011, result 00001000 ( 8 as Decimal)
	printf("\nBitwise Complement : %d",~a);
	// 2's Complement
	printf("\nLeft Shift : %d",a << b);
	// 00001011 << 3, result 01011000 ( 88 as Decimal)
	// remove 3 digit from left and add three 0 to right
	printf("\nRight Shift : %d",a >> b);
	// 00001011 >> 3, result 00000001 ( 1 as Decimal)
	// remove 3 digit from right and add three 0 to left

return 0;
}

Output :
Bitwise And : 3
Bitwise Or : 11
Bitwise XOR : 8
Bitwise Complement : -12
Left Shift : 88
Right Shift : 1

Special Operators in C Language

Some more operators in C, known as special operators.

Operators	Description	Example
sizeof	Return sizeof a variable.	printf(“\n%d”,sizeof(var));
&	Address Operator.	&var, return address of a variable
*	Pointer	*var, Pointer variable

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