BITWISE
\bˈɪtwa͡ɪz], \bˈɪtwaɪz], \b_ˈɪ_t_w_aɪ_z]\
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A bitwise operator treats its operands as avector of bits rather than a single number. Booleanbitwise operators combine bit N of each operand using aBoolean function (NOT, AND, OR, XOR) to produce bitN of the result.For example, a bitwise AND operator ("&" in C) wouldevaluate 13 & 9 as (binary) 1101 & 1001 = 1001 = 9, whereas,the logical AND, (C "&&") would evaluate 13 && 9 as TRUE &&TRUE = TRUE = 1.In some languages, e.g. Acorn's BASIC V, the same operatorsare used for both bitwise and logical operations. Thisusually works except when applying NOT to a value x which isneither 0 (false) nor -1 (true), in which case both x and (NOTx) will be non-zero and thus treated as TRUE.Other operations at the bit level, which are not normallydescribed as "bitwise" include shift and rotate.
By Denis Howe
Word of the day
tinctura quininae ammoniata
- A preparation made by dissolving quinin sulphate in alcohol [Br. Ph.].