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Assignment operators are used for assigning value to a variable. The left side operand of the assignment operator is a variable and right side operand of the assignment operator is a value. The value on the right side must be of the same data-type of the variable on the left side otherwise the compiler will raise an error.

Different types of assignment operators are shown below:

1. “=”: This is the simplest assignment operator. This operator is used to assign the value on the right to the variable on the left. Example:

2. “+=” : This operator is combination of ‘+’ and ‘=’ operators. This operator first adds the current value of the variable on left to the value on the right and then assigns the result to the variable on the left. Example:

If initially value stored in a is 5. Then (a += 6) = 11.

3. “-=” This operator is combination of ‘-‘ and ‘=’ operators. This operator first subtracts the value on the right from the current value of the variable on left and then assigns the result to the variable on the left. Example:

If initially value stored in a is 8. Then (a -= 6) = 2.

4. “*=” This operator is combination of ‘*’ and ‘=’ operators. This operator first multiplies the current value of the variable on left to the value on the right and then assigns the result to the variable on the left. Example:

If initially value stored in a is 5. Then (a *= 6) = 30.

5. “/=” This operator is combination of ‘/’ and ‘=’ operators. This operator first divides the current value of the variable on left by the value on the right and then assigns the result to the variable on the left. Example:

If initially value stored in a is 6. Then (a /= 2) = 3.

Below example illustrates the various Assignment Operators:

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Assignment Operators in C

In C, the assignment operator stores a certain value in an already declared variable. A variable in C can be assigned the value in the form of a literal, another variable or an expression. The value to be assigned forms the right hand operand, whereas the variable to be assigned should be the operand to the left of = symbol, which is defined as a simple assignment operator in C. In addition, C has several augmented assignment operators.

The following table lists the assignment operators supported by the C language −

Simple assignment operator (=)

The = operator is the most frequently used operator in C. As per ANSI C standard, all the variables must be declared in the beginning. Variable declaration after the first processing statement is not allowed. You can declare a variable to be assigned a value later in the code, or you can initialize it at the time of declaration.

You can use a literal, another variable or an expression in the assignment statement.

Once a variable of a certain type is declared, it cannot be assigned a value of any other type. In such a case the C compiler reports a type mismatch error.

In C, the expressions that refer to a memory location are called "lvalue" expressions. A lvalue may appear as either the left-hand or right-hand side of an assignment.

On the other hand, the term rvalue refers to a data value that is stored at some address in memory. A rvalue is an expression that cannot have a value assigned to it which means an rvalue may appear on the right-hand side but not on the left-hand side of an assignment.

Variables are lvalues and so they may appear on the left-hand side of an assignment. Numeric literals are rvalues and so they may not be assigned and cannot appear on the left-hand side. Take a look at the following valid and invalid statements −

Augmented assignment operators

In addition to the = operator, C allows you to combine arithmetic and bitwise operators with the = symbol to form augmented or compound assignment operator. The augmented operators offer a convenient shortcut for combining arithmetic or bitwise operation with assignment.

For example, the expression a+=b has the same effect of performing a+b first and then assigning the result back to the variable a.

Similarly, the expression a<<=b has the same effect of performing a<<b first and then assigning the result back to the variable a.

Here is a C program that demonstrates the use of assignment operators in C:

When you compile and execute the above program, it produces the following result −

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C Assignment Operators

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An assignment operation assigns the value of the right-hand operand to the storage location named by the left-hand operand. Therefore, the left-hand operand of an assignment operation must be a modifiable l-value. After the assignment, an assignment expression has the value of the left operand but isn't an l-value.

assignment-expression :   conditional-expression   unary-expression assignment-operator assignment-expression

assignment-operator : one of   = *= /= %= += -= <<= >>= &= ^= |=

The assignment operators in C can both transform and assign values in a single operation. C provides the following assignment operators:

In assignment, the type of the right-hand value is converted to the type of the left-hand value, and the value is stored in the left operand after the assignment has taken place. The left operand must not be an array, a function, or a constant. The specific conversion path, which depends on the two types, is outlined in detail in Type Conversions .

• Assignment Operators

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Next: Execution Control Expressions , Previous: Arithmetic , Up: Top   [ Contents ][ Index ]

7 Assignment Expressions

As a general concept in programming, an assignment is a construct that stores a new value into a place where values can be stored—for instance, in a variable. Such places are called lvalues (see Lvalues ) because they are locations that hold a value.

An assignment in C is an expression because it has a value; we call it an assignment expression . A simple assignment looks like

We say it assigns the value of the expression value-to-store to the location lvalue , or that it stores value-to-store there. You can think of the “l” in “lvalue” as standing for “left,” since that’s what you put on the left side of the assignment operator.

However, that’s not the only way to use an lvalue, and not all lvalues can be assigned to. To use the lvalue in the left side of an assignment, it has to be modifiable . In C, that means it was not declared with the type qualifier const (see const ).

The value of the assignment expression is that of lvalue after the new value is stored in it. This means you can use an assignment inside other expressions. Assignment operators are right-associative so that

is equivalent to

This is the only useful way for them to associate; the other way,

would be invalid since an assignment expression such as x = y is not valid as an lvalue.

Warning: Write parentheses around an assignment if you nest it inside another expression, unless that is a conditional expression, or comma-separated series, or another assignment.

Assignment Operators in C

Operators are a fundamental part of all the computations that computers perform. Today we will learn about one of them known as Assignment Operators in C. Assignment Operators are used to assign values to variables. The most common assignment operator is = . Assignment Operators are Binary Operators.

Types of Assignment Operators in C

Here is a list of the assignment operators that you can find in the C language:

• basic assignment ( = )
• subtraction assignment ( -= )
• addition assignment ( += )
• division assignment ( /= )
• multiplication assignment ( *= )
• modulo assignment ( %= )
• bitwise XOR assignment ( ^= )
• bitwise OR assignment ( |= )
• bitwise AND assignment ( &= )
• bitwise right shift assignment ( >>= )
• bitwise left shift assignment ( <<= )

Working of Assignment Operators in C

This is the complete list of all assignment operators in C. To read the meaning of operator please keep in mind the above example.

Example for Assignment Operators in C

Basic assignment ( = ) :

Subtraction assignment ( -= ) :

Addition assignment ( += ) :

Division assignment ( /= ) :

Multiplication assignment ( *= ) :

Modulo assignment ( %= ) :

Bitwise XOR assignment ( ^= ) :

Bitwise OR assignment ( |= ) :

Bitwise AND assignment ( &= ) :

Bitwise right shift assignment ( >>= ) :

Bitwise left shift assignment ( <<= ) :

This is the detailed explanation of all the assignment operators in C that we have. Hopefully, This is clear to you.

Practice Problems on Assignment Operators in C

1. what will be the value of a after the following code is executed.

A) 10 B) 11 C) 12 D) 15

Answer – C. 12 Explanation: a starts at 10, increases by 5 to 15, then decreases by 3 to 12. So, a is 12.

2. After executing the following code, what is the value of num ?

A) 4 B) 8 C) 16 D) 32

Answer: C) 16 Explanation: After right-shifting 8 (binary 1000) by one and then left-shifting the result by two, the value becomes 16 (binary 10000).

Q. How does the /= operator function? Is it a combination of two other operators?

A. The /= operator is a compound assignment operator in C++. It divides the left operand by the right operand and assigns the result to the left operand. It is equivalent to using the / operator and then the = operator separately.

Q. What is the most basic operator among all the assignment operators available in the C language?

A. The most basic assignment operator in the C language is the simple = operator, which is used for assigning a value to a variable.

• Assignment operators are used to assign the result of an expression to a variable.
• There are two types of assignment operators in C. Simple assignment operator and compound assignment operator.
• Compound Assignment operators are easy to use and the left operand of expression needs not to write again and again.
• They work the same way in C++ as in C.

C Programming Tutorial

• Assignment Operator in C

Last updated on July 27, 2020

We have already used the assignment operator ( = ) several times before. Let's discuss it here in detail. The assignment operator ( = ) is used to assign a value to the variable. Its general format is as follows:

The operand on the left side of the assignment operator must be a variable and operand on the right-hand side must be a constant, variable or expression. Here are some examples:

The precedence of the assignment operator is lower than all the operators we have discussed so far and it associates from right to left.

We can also assign the same value to multiple variables at once.

here x , y and z are initialized to 100 .

Since the associativity of the assignment operator ( = ) is from right to left. The above expression is equivalent to the following:

Note that expressions like:

are called assignment expression. If we put a semicolon( ; ) at the end of the expression like this:

then the assignment expression becomes assignment statement.

Compound Assignment Operator #

Assignment operations that use the old value of a variable to compute its new value are called Compound Assignment.

Consider the following two statements:

Here the second statement adds 5 to the existing value of x . This value is then assigned back to x . Now, the new value of x is 105 .

To handle such operations more succinctly, C provides a special operator called Compound Assignment operator.

The general format of compound assignment operator is as follows:

where op can be any of the arithmetic operators ( + , - , * , / , % ). The above statement is functionally equivalent to the following:

Note : In addition to arithmetic operators, op can also be >> (right shift), << (left shift), | (Bitwise OR), & (Bitwise AND), ^ (Bitwise XOR). We haven't discussed these operators yet.

After evaluating the expression, the op operator is then applied to the result of the expression and the current value of the variable (on the RHS). The result of this operation is then assigned back to the variable (on the LHS). Let's take some examples: The statement:

is equivalent to x = x + 5; or x = x + (5); .

Similarly, the statement:

is equivalent to x = x * 2; or x = x * (2); .

Since, expression on the right side of op operator is evaluated first, the statement:

is equivalent to x = x * (y + 1) .

The precedence of compound assignment operators are same and they associate from right to left (see the precedence table ).

The following table lists some Compound assignment operators:

The following program demonstrates Compound assignment operators in action:

Expected Output:

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C Programming Operators

An operator is a symbol that operates on a value or a variable. For example: + is an operator to perform addition.

C has a wide range of operators to perform various operations.

C Arithmetic Operators

An arithmetic operator performs mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division etc on numerical values (constants and variables).

Example 1: Arithmetic Operators

The operators + , - and * computes addition, subtraction, and multiplication respectively as you might have expected.

In normal calculation, 9/4 = 2.25 . However, the output is 2 in the program.

It is because both the variables a and b are integers. Hence, the output is also an integer. The compiler neglects the term after the decimal point and shows answer 2 instead of 2.25 .

The modulo operator % computes the remainder. When a=9 is divided by b=4 , the remainder is 1 . The % operator can only be used with integers.

Suppose a = 5.0 , b = 2.0 , c = 5 and d = 2 . Then in C programming,

C Increment and Decrement Operators

C programming has two operators increment ++ and decrement -- to change the value of an operand (constant or variable) by 1.

Increment ++ increases the value by 1 whereas decrement -- decreases the value by 1. These two operators are unary operators, meaning they only operate on a single operand.

Example 2: Increment and Decrement Operators

Here, the operators ++ and -- are used as prefixes. These two operators can also be used as postfixes like a++ and a-- . Visit this page to learn more about how increment and decrement operators work when used as postfix .

C Assignment Operators

An assignment operator is used for assigning a value to a variable. The most common assignment operator is =

Example 3: Assignment Operators

C relational operators.

A relational operator checks the relationship between two operands. If the relation is true, it returns 1; if the relation is false, it returns value 0.

Relational operators are used in decision making and loops .

Example 4: Relational Operators

C logical operators.

An expression containing logical operator returns either 0 or 1 depending upon whether expression results true or false. Logical operators are commonly used in decision making in C programming .

Example 5: Logical Operators

Explanation of logical operator program

• (a == b) && (c > 5) evaluates to 1 because both operands (a == b) and (c > b) is 1 (true).
• (a == b) && (c < b) evaluates to 0 because operand (c < b) is 0 (false).
• (a == b) || (c < b) evaluates to 1 because (a = b) is 1 (true).
• (a != b) || (c < b) evaluates to 0 because both operand (a != b) and (c < b) are 0 (false).
• !(a != b) evaluates to 1 because operand (a != b) is 0 (false). Hence, !(a != b) is 1 (true).
• !(a == b) evaluates to 0 because (a == b) is 1 (true). Hence, !(a == b) is 0 (false).

C Bitwise Operators

During computation, mathematical operations like: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc are converted to bit-level which makes processing faster and saves power.

Bitwise operators are used in C programming to perform bit-level operations.

Visit bitwise operator in C to learn more.

Other Operators

Comma operator.

Comma operators are used to link related expressions together. For example:

The sizeof operator

The sizeof is a unary operator that returns the size of data (constants, variables, array, structure, etc).

Example 6: sizeof Operator

Other operators such as ternary operator ?: , reference operator & , dereference operator * and member selection operator  ->  will be discussed in later tutorials.

Table of Contents

• Arithmetic Operators
• Increment and Decrement Operators
• Assignment Operators
• Relational Operators
• Logical Operators
• sizeof Operator

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C Assignment Operators

Summary : in this tutorial, you’ll learn about the C assignment operators and how to use them effectively.

Introduction to the C assignment operators

An assignment operator assigns the vale of the right-hand operand to the left-hand operand. The following example uses the assignment operator (=) to assign 1 to the counter variable:

After the assignmment, the counter variable holds the number 1.

The following example adds 1 to the counter and assign the result to the counter:

The = assignment operator is called a simple assignment operator. It assigns the value of the left operand to the right operand.

Besides the simple assignment operator, C supports compound assignment operators. A compound assignment operator performs the operation specified by the additional operator and then assigns the result to the left operand.

The following example uses a compound-assignment operator (+=):

The expression:

is equivalent to the following expression:

The following table illustrates the compound-assignment operators in C:

• A simple assignment operator assigns the value of the left operand to the right operand.
• A compound assignment operator performs the operation specified by the additional operator and then assigns the result to the left operand.

C Functions

C structures, c operators.

Operators are used to perform operations on variables and values.

In the example below, we use the + operator to add together two values:

Although the + operator is often used to add together two values, like in the example above, it can also be used to add together a variable and a value, or a variable and another variable:

C divides the operators into the following groups:

• Arithmetic operators
• Assignment operators
• Comparison operators
• Logical operators
• Bitwise operators

Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic operators are used to perform common mathematical operations.

Assignment Operators

Assignment operators are used to assign values to variables.

In the example below, we use the assignment operator ( = ) to assign the value 10 to a variable called x :

The addition assignment operator ( += ) adds a value to a variable:

A list of all assignment operators:

Comparison Operators

Comparison operators are used to compare two values (or variables). This is important in programming, because it helps us to find answers and make decisions.

The return value of a comparison is either 1 or 0 , which means true ( 1 ) or false ( 0 ). These values are known as Boolean values , and you will learn more about them in the Booleans and If..Else chapter.

Comparison operators are used to compare two values.

Note: The return value of a comparison is either true ( 1 ) or false ( 0 ).

In the following example, we use the greater than operator ( > ) to find out if 5 is greater than 3:

A list of all comparison operators:

Logical Operators

You can also test for true or false values with logical operators.

Logical operators are used to determine the logic between variables or values:

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Assignment Operators In C [ Full Information With Examples ]

Assignment Operators In C

Assignment operators is a binary operator which is used to assign values in a variable , with its right and left sides being a one-one operand. The operand on the left side is variable in which the value is assigned and the right side operands can contain any of the constant, variable, and expression.

The Assignment operator is a lower priority operator. its priority has much lower than the rest of the other operators. Its priority is more than just the comma operator. The priority of all other operators is more than the assignment operator.

We can assign the same value to multiple variables simultaneously by the assignment operator.

x = y = z = 100

Here x, y, and z are initialized to 100.

In C language, the assignment operator can be divided into two categories.

• Simple assignment operator
• Compound assignment operators

1. Simple Assignment Operator In C

This operator is used to assign left-side values ​​to the right-side operands, simple assignment operators are represented by (=).

2. Compound Assignment Operators In C

Compound Assignment Operators use the old value of a variable to calculate its new value and reassign the value obtained from the calculation to the same variable.

Examples of compound assignment operators are: (Example: + =, – =, * =, / =,% =, & =, ^ =)

Look at these two statements:

Here in this example, adding 5 to the x variable in the second statement is again being assigned to the x variable.

Compound Assignment Operators provide us with the C language to perform such operation even more effecient and in less time.

Syntax of Compound Assignment Operators

Here op can be any arithmetic operators (+, -, *, /,%).

The above statement is equivalent to the following depending on the function:

Let us now know about some important compound assignment operators one by one.

“+ =” -: This operator adds the right operand to the left operand and assigns the output to the left operand.

“- =” -: This operator subtracts the right operand from the left operand and returns the result to the left operand.

“* =” -: This operator multiplies the right operand with the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand.

“/ =” -: This operator splits the left operand with the right operand and assigns the result to the left operand.

“% =” -: This operator takes the modulus using two operands and assigns the result to the left operand.

There are many other assignment operators such as left shift and (<< =) operator, right shift and operator (>> =), bitwise and assignment operator (& =), bitwise OR assignment operator (^ =)

List of Assignment Operators In C

Read More -:

• What is Operators In C
• Relational Operators In C
• Logical Operators In C
• Bitwise Operators In C
• Arithmetic Operators In C
• Conditional Operator in C
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• C Language Tutorial For Beginners
• C Programming Examples With Output
• 250+ C Programs for Practice PDF Free Download

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Assignment and shorthand assignment operator in C

Quick links.

• Shorthand assignment

Assignment operator is used to assign value to a variable (memory location). There is a single assignment operator = in C. It evaluates expression on right side of = symbol and assigns evaluated value to left side the variable.

For example consider the below assignment table.

The RHS of assignment operator must be a constant, expression or variable. Whereas LHS must be a variable (valid memory location).

Shorthand assignment operator

C supports a short variant of assignment operator called compound assignment or shorthand assignment. Shorthand assignment operator combines one of the arithmetic or bitwise operators with assignment operator.

For example, consider following C statements.

The above expression a = a + 2 is equivalent to a += 2 .

Similarly, there are many shorthand assignment operators. Below is a list of shorthand assignment operators in C.

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Assignment operator in c.

Last Updated on June 23, 2023 by Prepbytes

This type of operator is employed for transforming and assigning values to variables within an operation. In an assignment operation, the right side represents a value, while the left side corresponds to a variable. It is essential that the value on the right side has the same data type as the variable on the left side. If this requirement is not fulfilled, the compiler will issue an error.

What is Assignment Operator in C language?

In C, the assignment operator serves the purpose of assigning a value to a variable. It is denoted by the equals sign (=) and plays a vital role in storing data within variables for further utilization in code. When using the assignment operator, the value present on the right-hand side is assigned to the variable on the left-hand side. This fundamental operation allows developers to store and manipulate data effectively throughout their programs.

Example of Assignment Operator in C

For example, consider the following line of code:

Types of Assignment Operators in C

Here is a list of the assignment operators that you can find in the C language:

Simple assignment operator (=): This is the basic assignment operator, which assigns the value on the right-hand side to the variable on the left-hand side.

Addition assignment operator (+=): This operator adds the value on the right-hand side to the variable on the left-hand side and assigns the result back to the variable.

x += 3; // Equivalent to x = x + 3; (adds 3 to the current value of "x" and assigns the result back to "x")

Subtraction assignment operator (-=): This operator subtracts the value on the right-hand side from the variable on the left-hand side and assigns the result back to the variable.

x -= 4; // Equivalent to x = x – 4; (subtracts 4 from the current value of "x" and assigns the result back to "x")

* Multiplication assignment operator ( =):** This operator multiplies the value on the right-hand side with the variable on the left-hand side and assigns the result back to the variable.

x = 2; // Equivalent to x = x 2; (multiplies the current value of "x" by 2 and assigns the result back to "x")

Division assignment operator (/=): This operator divides the variable on the left-hand side by the value on the right-hand side and assigns the result back to the variable.

x /= 2; // Equivalent to x = x / 2; (divides the current value of "x" by 2 and assigns the result back to "x")

Bitwise AND assignment (&=): The bitwise AND assignment operator "&=" performs a bitwise AND operation between the value on the left-hand side and the value on the right-hand side. It then assigns the result back to the left-hand side variable.

x &= 3; // Binary: 0011 // After bitwise AND assignment: x = 1 (Binary: 0001)

Bitwise OR assignment (|=): The bitwise OR assignment operator "|=" performs a bitwise OR operation between the value on the left-hand side and the value on the right-hand side. It then assigns the result back to the left-hand side variable.

x |= 3; // Binary: 0011 // After bitwise OR assignment: x = 7 (Binary: 0111)

Bitwise XOR assignment (^=): The bitwise XOR assignment operator "^=" performs a bitwise XOR operation between the value on the left-hand side and the value on the right-hand side. It then assigns the result back to the left-hand side variable.

x ^= 3; // Binary: 0011 // After bitwise XOR assignment: x = 6 (Binary: 0110)

Left shift assignment (<<=): The left shift assignment operator "<<=" shifts the bits of the value on the left-hand side to the left by the number of positions specified by the value on the right-hand side. It then assigns the result back to the left-hand side variable.

x <<= 2; // Binary: 010100 (Shifted left by 2 positions) // After left shift assignment: x = 20 (Binary: 10100)

Right shift assignment (>>=): The right shift assignment operator ">>=" shifts the bits of the value on the left-hand side to the right by the number of positions specified by the value on the right-hand side. It then assigns the result back to the left-hand side variable.

x >>= 2; // Binary: 101 (Shifted right by 2 positions) // After right shift assignment: x = 5 (Binary: 101)

Conclusion The assignment operator in C, denoted by the equals sign (=), is used to assign a value to a variable. It is a fundamental operation that allows programmers to store data in variables for further use in their code. In addition to the simple assignment operator, C provides compound assignment operators that combine arithmetic or bitwise operations with assignment, allowing for concise and efficient code.

FAQs related to Assignment Operator in C

Q1. Can I assign a value of one data type to a variable of another data type? In most cases, assigning a value of one data type to a variable of another data type will result in a warning or error from the compiler. It is generally recommended to assign values of compatible data types to variables.

Q2. What is the difference between the assignment operator (=) and the comparison operator (==)? The assignment operator (=) is used to assign a value to a variable, while the comparison operator (==) is used to check if two values are equal. It is important not to confuse these two operators.

Q3. Can I use multiple assignment operators in a single statement? No, it is not possible to use multiple assignment operators in a single statement. Each assignment operator should be used separately for assigning values to different variables.

Q4. Are there any limitations on the right-hand side value of the assignment operator? The right-hand side value of the assignment operator should be compatible with the data type of the left-hand side variable. If the data types are not compatible, it may lead to unexpected behavior or compiler errors.

Q5. Can I assign the result of an expression to a variable using the assignment operator? Yes, it is possible to assign the result of an expression to a variable using the assignment operator. For example, x = y + z; assigns the sum of y and z to the variable x.

Q6. What happens if I assign a value to an uninitialized variable? Assigning a value to an uninitialized variable will initialize it with the assigned value. However, it is considered good practice to explicitly initialize variables before using them to avoid potential bugs or unintended behavior.

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Assignment operators.

Assignment operators modify the value of the object.

[ edit ] Definitions

Copy assignment replaces the contents of the object a with a copy of the contents of b ( b is not modified). For class types, this is performed in a special member function, described in copy assignment operator .

For non-class types, copy and move assignment are indistinguishable and are referred to as direct assignment .

Compound assignment replace the contents of the object a with the result of a binary operation between the previous value of a and the value of b .

[ edit ] Assignment operator syntax

The assignment expressions have the form

• ↑ target-expr must have higher precedence than an assignment expression.
• ↑ new-value cannot be a comma expression, because its precedence is lower.

[ edit ] Built-in simple assignment operator

For the built-in simple assignment, the object referred to by target-expr is modified by replacing its value with the result of new-value . target-expr must be a modifiable lvalue.

The result of a built-in simple assignment is an lvalue of the type of target-expr , referring to target-expr . If target-expr is a bit-field , the result is also a bit-field.

[ edit ] Assignment from an expression

If new-value is an expression, it is implicitly converted to the cv-unqualified type of target-expr . When target-expr is a bit-field that cannot represent the value of the expression, the resulting value of the bit-field is implementation-defined.

If target-expr and new-value identify overlapping objects, the behavior is undefined (unless the overlap is exact and the type is the same).

In overload resolution against user-defined operators , for every type T , the following function signatures participate in overload resolution:

For every enumeration or pointer to member type T , optionally volatile-qualified, the following function signature participates in overload resolution:

For every pair A1 and A2 , where A1 is an arithmetic type (optionally volatile-qualified) and A2 is a promoted arithmetic type, the following function signature participates in overload resolution:

[ edit ] Built-in compound assignment operator

The behavior of every built-in compound-assignment expression target-expr   op   =   new-value is exactly the same as the behavior of the expression target-expr   =   target-expr   op   new-value , except that target-expr is evaluated only once.

The requirements on target-expr and new-value of built-in simple assignment operators also apply. Furthermore:

• For + = and - = , the type of target-expr must be an arithmetic type or a pointer to a (possibly cv-qualified) completely-defined object type .
• For all other compound assignment operators, the type of target-expr must be an arithmetic type.

In overload resolution against user-defined operators , for every pair A1 and A2 , where A1 is an arithmetic type (optionally volatile-qualified) and A2 is a promoted arithmetic type, the following function signatures participate in overload resolution:

For every pair I1 and I2 , where I1 is an integral type (optionally volatile-qualified) and I2 is a promoted integral type, the following function signatures participate in overload resolution:

For every optionally cv-qualified object type T , the following function signatures participate in overload resolution:

[ edit ] Example

Possible output:

[ edit ] Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

[ edit ] See also

Operator precedence

Operator overloading

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C - Bitwise OR and assignment operator

The Bitwise OR and assignment operator (|=) assigns the first operand a value equal to the result of Bitwise OR operation of two operands.

(x |= y) is equivalent to (x = x | y)

The Bitwise OR operator (|) is a binary operator which takes two bit patterns of equal length and performs the logical OR operation on each pair of corresponding bits. It returns 1 if either or both bits at the same position are 1, else returns 0.

The example below describes how bitwise OR operator works:

The code of using Bitwise OR operator (|) is given below:

The output of the above code will be:

Example: Find largest power of 2 less than or equal to given number

Consider an integer 1000. In the bit-wise format, it can be written as 1111101000. However, all bits are not written here. A complete representation will be 32 bit representation as given below:

Performing N |= (N>>i) operation, where i = 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 will change all right side bit to 1. When applied on 1000, the result in 32 bit representation is given below:

Adding one to this result and then right shifting the result by one place will give largest power of 2 less than or equal to 1000.

The below code will calculate the largest power of 2 less than or equal to given number.

The above code will give the following output:

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C Syntax Explained: From Variables To Functions

Unearth the secret intricacies of C in our comprehensive guide. We journey from understanding the fundamental syntax, making sense of arrays and strings, delving into operators and functions, and exploring advanced techniques with real-world applications.

💡 KEY INSIGHTS

• Pointer arithmetic in C is based on the data type size the pointer points to, making it a crucial concept for efficient memory manipulation and array operations.
• The article emphasizes the importance of the const keyword in C for declaring constants, ensuring safety against unintentional modifications and enhancing code reliability.
• Function pointers in C, which point to functions instead of data types, are highlighted for their utility in passing functions as arguments and creating function arrays.
• The guide underscores the difference between structures and unions in memory allocation, with structures allocating separate storage for each member, while unions use shared storage for all.

C is a foundational programming language that has influenced many modern languages we use today. Its syntax forms the bedrock for understanding more complex languages and systems. As you navigate through this article, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the intricacies and elegance of C's structure. Happy coding!

Basic Data Types

Variables and constants, control structures, arrays and strings, structures and unions, file handling, frequently asked questions, integer types, floating-point types, character type, derived data types.

Explore the world of C's basic data types. This section offers a succinct overview of the primary data types in C, complete with code samples and descriptions. Whether you're a novice or simply revisiting the topic, this guide ensures you grasp the essentials of C programming.

In C, integers are whole numbers that can have both zero, positive, and negative values but no decimal values. The int keyword is used to declare integer variables. Depending on the architecture, an integer can be 2 or 4 bytes.

Floating-point types represent numbers with decimal points. C offers three types for floating-point numbers: float , double , and long double . The precision and storage of these types can vary based on the machine.

The character type is used to store a single character. The keyword used is char . Each character occupies 1 byte of memory in C. Characters are typically stored in ASCII codes.

The void type specifies that no value is available. It is used in functions to indicate that the function does not return any value.

Apart from the basic data types, C supports several derived data types like arrays, pointers, structures, and unions. These types are derived from the basic data types and allow for more complex data structures. For instance, an array can store multiple values of the same type.

Defining Variables

Variable initialization, constants and literals, the const keyword, the #define preprocessor.

Explore the nuances of variables and constants in C. This section delves into the declaration, initialization, and usage of variables, as well as the distinction between variables and constants. Grasp the essence of data storage and manipulation in C programming.

In C, variables are memory locations used to store data. To use a variable, you must first declare its type and name. The variable name should be relevant to its purpose in the program.

Variables are the named placeholders that capture the essence of programming, storing our data's soul.

Initialization refers to assigning a value to a variable at the time of declaration. It ensures that the variable has a defined value before it's used in the program.

Constants are values that remain unchanged throughout the program. A literal is a constant value used in the program, like numbers, characters, and strings. For example, 5 , 'a' , and "Hello" are literals.

The const keyword in C is used to declare a variable as constant, meaning its value cannot be changed after initialization. It provides a level of safety against unintentional changes.

Another way to define constants in C is using the #define preprocessor directive. It replaces the defined constant with its value during compilation.

Arithmetic Operators

Relational operators, logical operators, assignment operators, bitwise operators, special operators.

Unravel the intricacies of operators in C. Operators are symbols that perform operations on variables and values. From basic arithmetic to complex bitwise manipulations, this section provides a comprehensive overview of the different operators available in C.

Arithmetic operators are used to perform mathematical operations. Common ones include addition ( + ), subtraction ( - ), multiplication ( * ), division ( / ), and modulus ( % ).

Relational operators are used to compare two values. They include equals to ( == ), not equals to ( != ), greater than ( > ), less than ( < ), greater than or equal to ( >= ), and less than or equal to ( <= ).

Logical operators are used to determine the logic between variables or values. The primary ones are AND ( && ), OR ( || ), and NOT ( ! ).

Assignment operators are used to assign values to variables. The basic assignment operator is = . There are also compound assignment operators like += , -= , *= , and /= .

Bitwise operators act on individual bits of numbers. They include bitwise AND ( & ), OR ( | ), XOR ( ^ ), NOT ( ~ ), left shift ( << ), and right shift ( >> ).

C also has special operators like the comma operator ( , ), sizeof operator, pointer operators ( * and & ), and member selection operators ( . and -> ).

Conditional Statements

Looping structures, jump statements, switch case.

Delve into the control structures of C. These structures guide the flow of execution in a program, facilitating decisions, repetitions, and jumps in code. This section will clarify the various control structures and their uses in C programming.

Conditional statements allow the program to make decisions. The primary conditional statements in C are if , if-else , and else if . They evaluate a condition and execute a block of code based on the result.

Looping structures enable the execution of a block of code multiple times. The primary loops in C are for , while , and do-while . They repeat a block of code as long as a condition is true.

Jump statements allow the program to jump to a different part of the code. The primary jump statements in C are break , continue , and goto . While break and continue are used within loops, goto can jump to any part of the code.

The switch case structure allows a variable to be tested for equality against multiple values. Each value is called a case, and the variable is checked against each case.

Function Basics

• Function Declaration and Definition

Function Call

Return types and arguments, scope of variables, recursive functions.

Functions serve as the building blocks of a C program, enabling modular code that is both reusable and organized. This section will lead you through the various facets of functions, from their fundamental structure to more intricate topics.

A function is a group of statements that together perform a specific task. It helps in modularizing the code and improving readability. Functions also enhance reusability and make the code more organized.

Function Declaration And Definition

Every function in C has a declaration and a definition . The declaration provides information about the function to the compiler, while the definition contains the actual code.

Once a function is defined, it can be called from another function, including the main function. A function call tells the program to execute the code within the function.

Functions can return values. The type of value a function returns is specified in its declaration and definition. Functions can also take arguments or parameters to operate on.

Variables in C have a scope , which determines where they can be accessed. Variables declared inside a function are local to that function, while variables declared outside are global.

A recursive function is one that calls itself. It's crucial to have a base case in recursive functions to prevent infinite loops.

Array Basics

Multidimensional arrays, string basics, string functions, character arrays vs strings.

Explore the intricacies of arrays and strings in C. These fundamental data structures allow for the storage and manipulation of collections of data. This section will delve into the various aspects of arrays and strings, from their basic structure to more advanced operations.

An array is a collection of elements of the same type, stored in contiguous memory locations. The elements can be accessed randomly by indexing into the array using an integer.

Multidimensional arrays are arrays of arrays. The most common type is the two-dimensional array, often used to represent matrices.

A string in C is an array of characters ending with a null character ( '\0' ). Strings are used to store text.

C provides a plethora of string functions in the string.h library, such as strcpy() , strlen() , and strcat() , which allow for efficient string manipulations.

While both character arrays and strings seem similar, the key difference is the null terminator. Strings always end with a null character, while character arrays do not necessarily have to. This distinction is crucial when working with C functions that expect strings.

Pointer Arithmetic

Pointers and arrays, pointers to pointers, function pointers, dynamic memory allocation.

Pointers are one of the most powerful and yet challenging concepts in C programming. This section will guide you through the nuances of pointers, from their basic understanding to advanced applications.

A pointer is a variable that stores the address of another variable. Pointers allow for direct memory access and manipulation, making them essential for dynamic memory allocation and array operations.

Pointer arithmetic involves operations like addition and subtraction on pointer variables. It's crucial to understand that pointer arithmetic is based on the size of the data type the pointer points to.

Arrays and pointers are closely related in C. The name of an array is a pointer to its first element, and array elements can be accessed using pointer arithmetic.

It's possible to have pointers to pointers in C. This concept is often used in scenarios like multi-dimensional arrays and dynamic data structures.

Function pointers are pointers that point to functions instead of data types. They can be used to pass functions as arguments and create arrays of functions.

Pointers play a crucial role in dynamic memory allocation . Functions like malloc() , calloc() , and free() are used to allocate and deallocate memory at runtime.

Defining Structures

Accessing structure members, structures and functions, defining unions, difference between structures and unions.

Explore the intricacies of structures and unions in C. These user-defined data types allow for the grouping of variables of different data types. While they may seem similar, they serve distinct purposes and have unique characteristics.

A structure is a user-defined data type that allows grouping of variables of different data types. It provides a way to store multiple items of mixed types under a single name.

Members of a structure can be accessed using the dot operator. Once a structure variable is defined, its members can be initialized and accessed as shown below.

Structures can be passed to functions as arguments. They can be passed by value or by reference. It's common to pass them by reference to avoid copying large structures.

A union is similar to a structure but with a key difference. In a union, all members share the same memory location. This means only one member can contain a value at any given time.

The primary difference between structures and unions is the way memory is allocated. In structures, each member has its own storage, whereas, in unions, all members use the same storage. This makes unions useful when variables aren't used at the same time.

Opening And Closing Files

Reading from files, writing to files, error handling in files.

This section will guide you through the essential operations like opening, reading, writing, and closing files. Learn how to efficiently manage data storage and retrieval with hands-on examples.

In C, the FILE pointer is used to handle files. To open a file, use the fopen() function, and to close it, use the fclose() function. Always ensure that a file is closed after operations to free up resources.

To read from a file, functions like fgetc() , fgets() , and fread() are available. These functions allow for reading single characters, strings, or blocks of data respectively.

Writing to files can be achieved using functions like fputc() , fputs() , and fwrite() . These allow for writing single characters, strings, or blocks of data.

When opening a file, you need to specify the mode . Common modes include "r" for reading, "w" for writing, "a" for appending, and "b" for binary mode. Combining modes, like "r+" allows for both reading and writing.

It's crucial to handle potential errors when working with files. Functions like ferror() and feof() help in detecting errors and end-of-file conditions, ensuring smooth file operations. Always check if a file has opened successfully before performing operations.

What is the difference between = and == in C?

= is an assignment operator used to assign a value to a variable. == is a relational operator used to compare two values for equality.

Why do we use the void keyword in function declarations?

The void keyword indicates that the function does not return any value. It can also be used in the function's parameter list to indicate that the function does not accept any arguments.

How are arrays and pointers related in C?

An array name is essentially a constant pointer to the first element of the array. Pointers can be used to access and manipulate array elements.

What is the significance of the & and * operators in C?

The & operator is used to get the address of a variable, while the * operator is used to dereference a pointer, i.e., to access the value stored at the address pointed to by the pointer.

Why is it recommended to use curly braces { } even for single-statement blocks in control structures?

Using curly braces for single-statement blocks enhances code readability and reduces the risk of logic errors, especially when modifications are made to the code later on.

What is the difference between ++i and i++ ?

Both are increment operators. ++i (pre-increment) increments the value of i before its current value is used in an expression, while i++ (post-increment) uses the current value of i in an expression and then increments it.

How can I read a string with spaces using the scanf function?

The scanf function typically stops reading input upon encountering whitespace. To read a string with spaces, you can use the %[^\n] format specifier, which reads until a newline character is encountered.

Which operator is used for assignment in C?

Continue learning with these c guides.

• What Is C Programming Memory Allocation
• What Is C Programming Device Drivers
• C Programming And Assembly Language: A Step-By-Step Approach
• What Is C Programming Low-Level Programming
• How To Use C Programming System Programming

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