Position of rightmost set bit

Write a one-line function to return the position of the first 1 from right to left, in the binary representation of an Integer. 

Examples:

Input: n = 18
Output: 2
Explanation: Binary Representation of 18 is 010010, hence position of first set bit from right is 2.

Input:  n = 19
Output: 1
Explanation: Binary Representation of 19 is 010011, hence position of first set bit from right is 1.

Position of rightmost set bit using two’s complement:

(n&~(n-1)) always return the binary number containing the rightmost set bit as 1. if N = 12 (1100) then it will return 4 (100). Here log2 will return, the number of times we can express that number in a power of two. For all binary numbers containing only the rightmost set bit as 1 like 2, 4, 8, 16, 32…. Find that position of rightmost set bit is always equal to log2(Number) + 1.

Follow the steps to solve the given problem:

• Let input be 12 (1100)
• Take two’s complement of the given no as all bits are reverted except the first ‘1’ from right to left (0100)
• Do a bit-wise & with original no, this will return no with the required one only (0100)
• Take the log2 of the no, you will get (position – 1) (2)
• Add 1 (3)

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program for Position
// of rightmost set bit
#include <iostream>
#include <math.h>
using namespace std;

class gfg {

public:
    unsigned int getFirstSetBitPos(int n)
    {
        return log2(n & -n) + 1;
    }
};

// Driver code
int main()
{
    gfg g;
    int n = 18;
    cout << g.getFirstSetBitPos(n);
    return 0;
}

// This code is contributed by SoM15242

C

// C program for Position
// of rightmost set bit
#include <math.h>
#include <stdio.h>

// Driver code
int main()
{
    int n = 18;
    int ans = log2(n & -n) + 1;
    printf("%d", ans);
    getchar();
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java Code for Position of rightmost set bit

import java.io.*;

class GFG {

    public static int getFirstSetBitPos(int n)
    {
        return (int)((Math.log10(n & -n)) / Math.log10(2))
            + 1;
    }

    // Drive code
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        int n = 18;
        System.out.println(getFirstSetBitPos(n));
    }
}
// This code is contributed by Arnav Kr. Mandal

Python3

# Python Code for Position
# of rightmost set bit

import math


def getFirstSetBitPos(n):

    return math.log2(n & -n)+1

# driver code


n = 18
print(int(getFirstSetBitPos(n)))

# This code is contributed
# by Anant Agarwal.

C#

// C# Code for Position of rightmost set bit
using System;

class GFG {
    public static int getFirstSetBitPos(int n)
    {
        return (int)((Math.Log10(n & -n)) / Math.Log10(2))
            + 1;
    }

    // Driver method
    public static void Main()
    {
        int n = 18;
        Console.WriteLine(getFirstSetBitPos(n));
    }
}

// This code is contributed by Sam007

PHP

<?php
// PHP Code for Position of
// rightmost set bit

function getFirstSetBitPos($n)
{
    return ceil(log(($n& -
                     $n) + 1, 2));
}

// Driver Code
$n = 18;
echo getFirstSetBitPos($n);

// This code is contributed by m_kit
?>

Javascript

<script>
// JavaScript program for Position
// of rightmost set bit

function getFirstSetBitPos(n)
{
    return Math.log2(n & -n) + 1;
}

// Driver code
    let g;
    let n = 18;
    document.write(getFirstSetBitPos(n));

// This code is contributed by Manoj.
</script>

Output

2

Time Complexity: O(log₂N), Time taken by log2 function.
Auxiliary Space: O(1)

Position of rightmost set bit using ffs() function:

ffs() function returns the index of first least significant set bit. The indexing starts in ffs() function from 1. 
Illustration:

Input: N = 12

Binary Representation of 12 is 1100

ffs(N) returns the rightmost set bit index which is 3. 

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program to find the
// position of first rightmost
// set bit in a given number.
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Function to find rightmost
// set bit in given number.
int getFirstSetBitPos(int n) { return ffs(n); }

// Driver function
int main()
{
    int n = 18;
    cout << getFirstSetBitPos(n) << endl;
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program  to find the
// position of first rightmost
// set bit in a given number
import java.util.*;

class GFG {

    // Function to find rightmost
    // set bit in given number.
    static int getFirstSetBitPos(int n)
    {
        return (int)((Math.log10(n & -n)) / Math.log10(2))
            + 1;
    }

    // Driver code
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        int n = 18;
        System.out.print(getFirstSetBitPos(n));
    }
}

// This code is contributed by sanjoy_62.

Python3

# Python3 program to find the
# position of first rightmost
# set bit in a given number
import math

# Function to find rightmost
# set bit in given number.


def getFirstSetBitPos(n):

    return int(math.log2(n & -n) + 1)


# Driver Code
if __name__ == '__main__':

    n = 18
    print(getFirstSetBitPos(n))

# This code is contributed by nirajgusain5.

C#

// C# program  to find the
// position of first rightmost
// set bit in a given number
using System;
public class GFG {

    // Function to find rightmost
    // set bit in given number.
    static int getFirstSetBitPos(int n)
    {
        return (int)((Math.Log10(n & -n)) / Math.Log10(2))
            + 1;
    }

    // Driver code
    public static void Main(String[] args)
    {
        int n = 18;
        Console.Write(getFirstSetBitPos(n));
    }
}

// This code is contributed by 29AjayKumar

Javascript

<script>

// Javascript program to find the
// position of first rightmost
// set bit in a given number

// Function to find rightmost
// set bit in given number.
function getFirstSetBitPos(n)
{
    return Math.log2(n & -n) + 1;
}

// Driver Code

    let n = 18;
    document.write( getFirstSetBitPos(n));

</script>

Output

2

Time Complexity: O(log₂N), Time taken by ffs() function.
Auxiliary Space: O(1)

Position of rightmost set bit using  & operator:

Follow the steps below to solve the problem:

• Initialize m as 1 as check its XOR with the bits starting from the rightmost bit. 
• Left shift m by one till we find the first set bit 
• as the first set bit gives a number when we perform a & operation with m. 

Below is the implementation of above approach:

C++

// C++ program to find the first
// rightmost set bit using XOR operator
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// function to find the rightmost set bit
int PositionRightmostSetbit(int n)
{
    if (n == 0)
        return 0;
    // Position variable initialize with 1
    // m variable is used to check the set bit
    int position = 1;
    int m = 1;

    while (!(n & m)) {

        // left shift
        m = m << 1;
        position++;
    }
    return position;
}
// Driver Code
int main()
{
    int n = 18;
    // function call
    cout << PositionRightmostSetbit(n);
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program to find the
// first rightmost set bit
// using XOR operator

class GFG {

    // function to find
    // the rightmost set bit
    static int PositionRightmostSetbit(int n)
    {
        // Position variable initialize
        // with 1 m variable is used to
        // check the set bit
        int position = 1;
        int m = 1;

        while ((n & m) == 0) {

            // left shift
            m = m << 1;
            position++;
        }
        return position;
    }

    // Driver Code
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        int n = 18;

        // function call
        System.out.println(PositionRightmostSetbit(n));
    }
}

// This code is contributed
// by Smitha

Python3

# Python3 program to find
# the first rightmost set
# bit using XOR operator

# function to find the
# rightmost set bit


def PositionRightmostSetbit(n):

    # Position variable initialize
    # with 1 m variable is used
    # to check the set bit
    position = 1
    m = 1

    while (not(n & m)):

        # left shift
        m = m << 1
        position += 1

    return position


# Driver Code
n = 18

# function call
print(PositionRightmostSetbit(n))

# This code is contributed
# by Smitha

C#

// C# program to find the
// first rightmost set bit
// using XOR operator
using System;

class GFG {

    // function to find
    // the rightmost set bit
    static int PositionRightmostSetbit(int n)
    {
        // Position variable initialize
        // with 1 m variable is used to
        // check the set bit
        int position = 1;
        int m = 1;

        while ((n & m) == 0) {

            // left shift
            m = m << 1;
            position++;
        }
        return position;
    }

    // Driver Code
    static public void Main()
    {
        int n = 18;

        // function call
        Console.WriteLine(PositionRightmostSetbit(n));
    }
}

// This code is contributed
// by @ajit

PHP

<?php
// PHP program to find the
// first rightmost set bit
// using XOR operator

// function to find the
// rightmost set bit
function PositionRightmostSetbit($n)
{
    // Position variable initialize
    // with 1 m variable is used to
    // check the set bit
    $position = 1;
    $m = 1;

    while (!($n & $m))
    {

        // left shift
        $m = $m << 1;
        $position++;
    }
    return $position;
}

// Driver Code
$n = 18;

// function call
echo PositionRightmostSetbit($n);

// This code is contributed by ajit
?>

Javascript

<script>

    // Javascript program to find the first
    // rightmost set bit using XOR operator

    // function to find the rightmost set bit
    function PositionRightmostSetbit(n)
    {

        // Position variable initialize with 1
        // m variable is used to check the set bit
        let position = 1;
        let m = 1;

        while ((n & m) == 0) {

            // left shift
            m = m << 1;
            position++;
        }
        return position;
    }

    let n = 18;

    // function call
    document.write(PositionRightmostSetbit(n));

    // This code is contributed by divyesh072019.
</script>

Output

2

Time Complexity: O(log₂N), Traversing through all the bits of N, where at max there are logN bits.
Auxiliary Space: O(1)

Position of rightmost set bit using Left Shift(<<):

Follow the steps below to solve the problem:

• Initialize pos with 1 
• iterate up to INT_SIZE(Here 32) 
• check whether bit is set or not 
• if bit is set then break the loop
• else increment the pos.  

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ implementation of above approach
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
#define INT_SIZE 32

int Right_most_setbit(int num)
{
    if (num == 0) // for num==0 there is zero set bit
    {
        return 0;
    }
    else {
        int pos = 1;
        // counting the position of first set bit
        for (int i = 0; i < INT_SIZE; i++) {
            if (!(num & (1 << i)))
                pos++;
            else
                break;
        }
        return pos;
    }
}
int main()
{
    int num = 18;
    int pos = Right_most_setbit(num);
    cout << pos << endl;
    return 0;
}
// This approach has been contributed by @yashasvi7

Java

// Java implementation of above approach
public class GFG {

    static int INT_SIZE = 32;

    static int Right_most_setbit(int num)
    {
        int pos = 1;
        // counting the position of first set bit
        for (int i = 0; i < INT_SIZE; i++) {
            if ((num & (1 << i)) == 0)
                pos++;

            else
                break;
        }
        return pos;
    }

    // Driver code
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {

        int num = 18;
        int pos = Right_most_setbit(num);
        System.out.println(pos);
    }
}

Python3

# Python 3 implementation of above approach

INT_SIZE = 32


def Right_most_setbit(num):

    pos = 1

    # counting the position of first set bit
    for i in range(INT_SIZE):
        if not(num & (1 << i)):
            pos += 1
        else:
            break

    return pos


if __name__ == "__main__":

    num = 18
    pos = Right_most_setbit(num)
    print(pos)

# This code is contributed by ANKITRAI1

C#

// C# implementation of above approach
using System;

class GFG {

    static int INT_SIZE = 32;

    static int Right_most_setbit(int num)
    {
        int pos = 1;

        // counting the position
        // of first set bit
        for (int i = 0; i < INT_SIZE; i++) {
            if ((num & (1 << i)) == 0)
                pos++;

            else
                break;
        }
        return pos;
    }

    // Driver code
    static public void Main()
    {
        int num = 18;
        int pos = Right_most_setbit(num);
        Console.WriteLine(pos);
    }
}

PHP

<?php
// PHP implementation of above approach

function Right_most_setbit($num)
{
    $pos = 1;
    $INT_SIZE = 32;

    // counting the position
    // of first set bit
    for ($i = 0; $i < $INT_SIZE; $i++)
    {
        if (!($num & (1 << $i)))
            $pos++;
        else
            break;
    }
    return $pos;
}

// Driver code
$num = 18;
$pos = Right_most_setbit($num);
echo $pos;
echo ("\n")

// This code is contributed
// by Shivi_Aggarwal
?>

Javascript

<script>

// Javascript implementation of above approach
let INT_SIZE = 32;

function Right_most_setbit(num)
{
    let pos = 1;

    // Counting the position of first set bit
    for(let i = 0; i < INT_SIZE; i++)
    {
        if ((num & (1 << i)) == 0)
            pos++;
        else
            break;
    }
    return pos;
}

// Driver code
let num = 18;
let pos = Right_most_setbit(num);

document.write(pos);

// This code is contributed by mukesh07

</script>

Output

2

Time Complexity: O(log₂n), Traversing through all the bits of N, where at max there are logN bits.
Auxiliary Space: O(1)

Position of rightmost set bit using Right Shift(>>):

Follow the steps below to solve the problem:

• Initialize pos=1. 
• Iterate till number>0,  at each step check if the last bit is set. 
• If last bit is set, return current position 
• else increment pos by 1 and right shift n by 1.

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program for above approach
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Program to find position of
// rightmost set bit
int PositionRightmostSetbit(int n)
{
    int p = 1;

    // Iterate till number>0
    while (n > 0) {

        // Checking if last bit is set
        if (n & 1) {
            return p;
        }

        // Increment position and right shift number
        p++;
        n = n >> 1;
    }

    // set bit not found.
    return -1;
}

// Driver Code
int main()
{
    int n = 18;

    // Function call
    int pos = PositionRightmostSetbit(n);

    if (pos != -1)
        cout << pos;
    else
        cout << 0;

    return 0;
}

// This code is contributed by zishanahmad786

Java

// Java program for above approach
import java.io.*;

class GFG {

    // Function to find position of
    // rightmost set bit
    public static int Last_set_bit(int n)
    {
        int p = 1;

        // Iterate till number>0
        while (n > 0) {

            // Checking if last bit is set
            if ((n & 1) > 0) {
                return p;
            }

            // Increment position and
            // right shift number
            p++;
            n = n >> 1;
        }

        // set bit not found.
        return -1;
    }

    // Driver Code
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        int n = 18;

        // Function call
        int pos = Last_set_bit(n);

        if (pos != -1)
            System.out.println(pos);
        else
            System.out.println("0");
    }
}

// This code is contributed by RohitOberoi

Python3

# Python program for above approach

# Program to find position of
# rightmost set bit


def PositionRightmostSetbit(n):
    p = 1

    # Iterate till number>0
    while(n > 0):

        # Checking if last bit is set
        if(n & 1):
            return p

        # Increment position and right shift number
        p += 1
        n = n >> 1

    # set bit not found.
    return -1


# Driver Code
n = 18
# Function call
pos = PositionRightmostSetbit(n)
if(pos != -1):
    print(pos)
else:
    print(0)

# This code is contributed by rohitsingh07052.

C#

// C# program for above approach
using System;

class GFG {

    // Function to find position of
    // rightmost set bit
    public static int Last_set_bit(int n)
    {
        int p = 1;

        // Iterate till number>0
        while (n > 0) {

            // Checking if last bit is set
            if ((n & 1) > 0) {
                return p;
            }

            // Increment position and
            // right shift number
            p++;
            n = n >> 1;
        }

        // Set bit not found.
        return -1;
    }

    // Driver Code
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        int n = 18;

        // Function call
        int pos = Last_set_bit(n);

        if (pos != -1)
            Console.WriteLine(pos);
        else
            Console.WriteLine("0");
    }
}

// This code is contributed by AnkThon

Javascript

<script>

// Javascript program for above approach

// Program to find position of
// rightmost set bit
function Last_set_bit(n)
{
    let p = 1;

    // Iterate till number>0
    while (n > 0)
    {

        // Checking if last bit is set
        if ((n & 1) > 0)
        {
            return p;
        }

        // Increment position and
        // right shift number
        p++;
        n = n >> 1;
    }

    // Set bit not found.
    return -1;
}

// Driver code
let n = 18;

// Function call
let pos = Last_set_bit(n);

if (pos != -1)
{
    document.write(pos);
}
else
{
    document.write(0);
}

// This code is contributed by divyeshrabadiya07

</script>

C

#include <stdio.h>

// Function to find position of
// rightmost set bit
int Last_set_bit(int n)
{
    int p = 1;

    // Iterate till number>0
    while (n > 0) {

        // Checking if last bit is set
        if ((n & 1) > 0) {
            return p;
        }

        // Increment position and
        // right shift number
        p++;
        n = n >> 1;
    }

    // set bit not found.
    return -1;
}

int main(void)
{
    int n = 18;

    // Function call
    int pos = Last_set_bit(n);

    if (pos != -1)
        printf("%d\n", pos);
    else
        printf("0\n");

    return 0;
}

Output

2

Time Complexity: O(log₂n), Traversing through all the bits of N, where at max there are logN bits.
Auxiliary Space: O(1)