Mastering JavaScript Operators: From Basics to Bitwise

In this blog, we'll dive into the world of JavaScript operators, covering everything from basic arithmetic to bitwise operations. We'll explore terms like "unary," "binary," and "operand," and provide practical examples to help you understand each concept. Let's get started!

Basic Operators

Unary, Binary, and Operand

• Unary operators act on a single operand (e.g., x).
• Binary operators act on two operands (e.g., x + y).
• Operands are the values that operators act upon.

Example:

let x = 5;
let y = 3;

// Unary operator
let negX = -x; // -5

// Binary operator
let sum = x + y; // 8

Maths

JavaScript provides a variety of mathematical operators for performing arithmetic operations.

Example:

let a = 10;
let b = 3;

let addition = a + b; // 13
let subtraction = a - b; // 7
let multiplication = a * b; // 30
let division = a / b; // 3.333...
let modulus = a % b; // 1
let exponentiation = a ** b; // 1000

String Concatenation with Binary +

The + operator can also be used to concatenate strings.

Example:

let firstName = "John";
let lastName = "Doe";

let fullName = firstName + " " + lastName; // "John Doe"

Numeric Conversion, Unary +

The unary + operator can convert a value to a number.

Example:

let str = "123";
let num = +str; // 123

console.log(typeof num); // "number"

Operator Precedence

Operator precedence determines the order in which operations are performed.

Example:

let result = 2 + 3 * 4; // 14 (multiplication has higher precedence than addition)

Assignment

The assignment operator = is used to assign values to variables.

Example:

let x = 10;
let y = 5;

x = y; // x is now 5

Modify-in-Place

Modify-in-place operators combine assignment with another operation.

Example:

let x = 10;

x += 5; // x is now 15
x -= 3; // x is now 12
x *= 2; // x is now 24
x /= 4; // x is now 6
x %= 5; // x is now 1

Increment/Decrement

Increment (++) and decrement (--) operators increase or decrease a value by 1.

Example:

let x = 5;

x++; // x is now 6
x--; // x is now 5

Bitwise Operators

Bitwise operators perform operations on binary representations of numbers.

Example:

let a = 5; // 0101 in binary
let b = 3; // 0011 in binary

let andResult = a & b; // 0001 in binary, which is 1
let orResult = a | b; // 0111 in binary, which is 7
let xorResult = a ^ b; // 0110 in binary, which is 6
let notResult = ~a; // -6 (two's complement of 0101)
let leftShift = a << 1; // 1010 in binary, which is 10
let rightShift = a >> 1; // 0010 in binary, which is 2

Comma

The comma operator , evaluates both of its operands and returns the value of the second operand.

Example:

let x = (5, 10); // x is 10

Conclusion

Understanding JavaScript operators is crucial for writing efficient and effective code. From basic arithmetic to bitwise operations, each operator has its unique use case. By mastering these operators, you'll be well on your way to becoming a proficient JavaScript developer.

Stay tuned for more in-depth blogs on JavaScript! Happy coding!