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Understanding the Distinction: >>> vs >> Operators in Java

The >> and >>> operators in Java play distinct roles in performing shift operations on primitive data types.

The Difference:

• Arithmetic Shift Right (>>):

  • Preserves the sign of the number being shifted by extending the sign bit to the right.

• Logical Shift Right (>>>):

  • Ignores the sign bit and fills in the vacated bits on the left with zeroes.

Example:

Consider the 8-bit representation of -2 (11111110, with the most significant bit signifying a negative value).

• Arithmetic Shift (>> 1):

  • Extends the sign bit, resulting in 11111111 (-1)

• Logical Shift (>>> 1):

  • Ignores the sign bit and fills in 0s, resulting in 01111111 (positive value)

Key Distinction:

The arithmetic shift retains the signedness of the number, while the logical shift treats it simply as an unsigned binary number. This distinction becomes important when dealing with negative values.