C Programming - Operators

OPERATOR

A symbol that instructs C to perform some operation on one or more operands is called operator.

The data on which operator are performed is called Operand.

For example: p=3+4; P, 3 and 4 are operands where as = and + are operator and p=7 is the result.

The operators provided by C language are as follows:

1. Arithmetic Operator:

Operators which are used in mathematical expression are called arithmetical operators. The various arithmetic operators are:

Operators	Name	Example
+	Addition	a=2+3=5
-	Subtraction	a=5-1=4
*	Multiplication	a=3*4=12
/	Division	a=12/2=6
%	Modulus(Remainder)	a=12%2=0

2. Logical Operator

These operators are generally used in conditional expression. The three logical operators in C are as follows:

Operators	Name	Example
&&	Logical AND	(a>b)&&<a>c)
||	Logical OR	(a>b)||(a>c)
!	Logical NOT	!(a==b)

3. Assignment Operator

The assignment operator calculates the expression on the right side and gives the values of left side variables.

Example: -   a=2+3=5

C has a set of “shorthand” assignment operator of the form

V op = exp;

Where, V is variable, op is arithmetic operator and exp is an expression. 

Example:  a+ = 1   i.e. a = a+1

Here, at first the arithmetic operation is performed than only assignment operation is performed.

4. Relational Operator

It is used to compare the values between operands and gives a result whether it is true or false. It is also called comparison operator due to its comparing characteristics. There are 6 relational operators are:

Operators	Name	Example
<	Less than	a<b
< =	Less than equal to	a<=b
>	Greater than	a>b
>=	Greater than equal to	a>=b
= =	Equal to	a==b
! =	Not equal to	a!=b

5. Ternary Operator (? :)

C has only ternary operator of this operators result in terse (shorten) and compact mode.

Syntax:

<condition> ? <expression-1> : <expression-2>

If the condition is true, expression-1 will be executed; otherwise, expression-2 will be executed. The ? : is similar to if -else statement.

Example:

int x,a,b;

a=6;

b=10;

x= (a<b)? a:b;

printf("%d",x);

Here, the value of x is 10.

6. Comma Operator

The comma operator can be used to link the related expressions together. A comma-linked list of expressions is evaluated left to right and the value of right-most expression is the value of the combined expression. For examples: The statement

                             F= (a=2, b=3, a+b)

First assigns the value 2 to a, then assign 3 to b and finally assigns 5 to F.