Java Shift Operators: What's the Difference Between >> and >>>?

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Shift Operators: Differentiating >> vs >>>

Java provides two distinct shift operators: >> (arithmetic shift right) and >>> (logical shift right). Understanding the nuances between these operators is crucial for efficient coding.

Arithmetic Shift Right (>>)

The >> operator performs arithmetic shift operations. For negative numbers, the sign bit is extended to preserve the negative value. This means that zeroes are shifted in from the left, maintaining the number's original sign.

Logical Shift Right (>>>)

In contrast, the >>> operator performs logical right shift operations. Regardless of the number's sign, binary digits are shifted right and filled in from the left with zeroes. This operation does not preserve the sign of the number and is commonly used with unsigned values.

Example:

Consider the following 8-bit representation of -2: 11111110.

• Arithmetic shift right by 1 bit (>> 1): 11111111 (-1)
• Logical shift right by 1 bit (>>> 1): 01111111 (unsigned 127)

By preserving the sign bit in arithmetic shift, negative values are maintained, while logical shift ignores the sign, treating all values as unsigned. This distinction is essential in situations where the interpretation of negative values matters.

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