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What is JavaScript >>> Operator and how to use it ?

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The JavaScript >>> represents the zero-fill right shift operator. It is also called the unsigned right-bit shift operator. It comes under the category of Bitwise operators. Bitwise operators treat operands as 32-bit integer numbers and operate on their binary representation. 

Zero-fill right shift (>>>) operator: It is a binary operator, where the first operand specifies the number and the second operand specifies the number of bits to shift. The operator shifts the bits of the first operand by a number of bits specified by the second operand. The bits are shifted to the right and those excess bits are discarded, while 0 bit is added from the left. As the sign bit becomes 0, the operator ( >>> ) returns a 32-bit non-negative integer. 

Example:

Input:
A = 6 ( 00000000000000000000000000000110 )
B = 1 ( 00000000000000000000000000000001 )

Output:
A >>> B = 3 ( 00000000000000000000000000000011 )

Syntax:

result = expression1 >>> expression2

Difference between >>> and >>: The difference between these two is that the unsigned zero-fill right shift operator (>>>) fills with zeroes from the left, and the signed right bit shift operator (>>) fills with the sign bit from the left, thus it maintains the sign of the integer value when shifted. 

Example: This example implements the use of >>> operator:

Javascript




console.log("For non negative number:<br>");
let a = 12;
 
// Shift right two bits
let b = 2;
console.log("a = " + a + " , b = " + b);
console.log("<br>a >>> b = " + (a >>> b) + '<br>');
 
console.log("<br>For negative number:<br>");
let a = -10;
 
// Shift right two bits
let b = 3;
console.log("a = " + a + " , b = " + b);


Output

For non negative number:<br>
a = 12 , b = 2
<br>a >>> b = 3<br>
<br>For negative number:<br>
a = -10 , b = 3

Explanation: For non-negative numbers, zero-fill right shift (>>>) and sign-propagating right shift (>>) gives the same output. For example, 9 >>> 2 and 9 >> 2 give the same result i.e. 2. But for negative numbers, -9 >>> 2 gives 1073741821, and -9 >> 2 gives -3 as output.

Case 1: non-negative number
    12 (base 10): 00000000000000000000000000001100 (base 2)
                   --------------------------------
    12 >>> 2 (base 10): 00000000000000000000000000000011 (base 2)
    = 3 (base 10)

Case 2: negative number
    -10 (base 10): 11111111111111111111111111110110 (base 2)
                    --------------------------------
    -10 >>> 3 (base 10): 00011111111111111111111111111110 (base 2)
    = 536870910 (base 10) 

Last Updated : 19 Jun, 2023
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