What is the Purpose of the '>>' Operator in Java?

What is the Purpose of the '>>' Operator in Java?

int num = 16; 
int result = num >> 2; // result is 4

In Java, the '>>' operator is known as the right shift operator. It shifts the bits of the operand to the right by a specified number of positions, filling the leftmost bits with the sign bit (0 for positive numbers, 1 for negative numbers). This operator is widely used in arithmetic operations and for manipulating binary data.

int num = -8;  
int shiftedRight = num >> 2;  // shiftedRight is -2  

// Explanation of the binary representation:  
// Binary of -8 in 32-bit: 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111000  
// After shifting right by 2 positions: 11111111 11111111 11111111 11111110 (which is -2)

Causes

• Commonly used for arithmetic operations where sign preservation is necessary.
• Useful in algorithms involving bit manipulation.
• Helps in efficient division by powers of two.

Solutions

• Use '>>' when you need to perform an arithmetic right shift that preserves the sign of the number.
• Avoid using '>>' for unsigned shifts; consider the '>>>' operator in such cases.

Mistake: Using '>>' instead of '>>>' when an unsigned right shift is required.

Solution: Use the '>>>' operator to perform an unsigned right shift.

Mistake: Assuming the right shift will always yield a positive result.

Solution: Be cautious of the sign of the number; negative numbers will keep their sign bit.