Java Left Shift Operator

In this chapter you will learn:

1. What is Left Shift Operator
2. Syntax for Left Shift Operator
3. Example - Left Shift Operator
4. Example - double the original value

Description

The left shift operator, <<, shifts all of the bits in a value to the left a specified number of times.

Syntax

It has this general form:

value << num

Example

The following code shifts byte type variable.

 
public class Main {
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    byte a = 64, b;
    int i;// w  w w .j a  v  a  2 s  .c o  m
    i = a << 2;
    b = (byte) (a << 2);
    System.out.println("Original value of a: " + a);
    System.out.println("i and b: " + i + " " + b);
  }
}

The output generated by this program is shown here:

Example 2

Each left shift has the effect of doubling the original value. The following program illustrates this point:

 
public class Main {
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    int num = 0xFFFFFFF;
/*from   w  ww . ja  v  a  2  s.c om*/
    for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
      num = num << 1;
      System.out.println(num);

    }
  }
}

The program generates the following output:

Next chapter...

What you will learn in the next chapter:

1. How to shift bits in a value to the right
2. Syntax for Right Shift Operator
3. Example - Right Shift Operator

Java Left Shift Operator