What is << symbol in C++?

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In C++, the << symbol is an overloaded operator that can be used in two main contexts:

1. Output Stream Operator

When used with the std::cout object, the << operator is called the insertion operator. It is used to output data to the console (standard output).

Example:

int x = 10; std::cout << "The value of x is: " << x << std::endl;
  • In this case, << takes the value of x and "inserts" it into the output stream, displaying it in the console.
  • The output for the above code would be:
    The value of x is: 10
    

2. Bitwise Left Shift Operator

The << operator is also used as the bitwise left shift operator. It shifts the bits of an integer to the left by a specified number of positions, effectively multiplying the number by powers of two.

Example:

int a = 5; // Binary: 0000 0101 int result = a << 1; // Left shift by 1 bit
  • After the left shift, a becomes 0000 1010, which is 10 in decimal.
  • The left shift operator can be used for efficient multiplication by powers of two.

Summary:

  • std::cout <<: Used to print values to the console.
  • << as bitwise operator: Shifts bits to the left, typically used in low-level programming.

Sources:

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