Skip to main content

Python Assignment Operators

Assignment Operators

Assignment operators are used to assign values to variables.

note

There are various compound operators in Python.

For example, a += 2 adds 2 to the variable and then assigns it to the variable. It is equivalent to a = a + 2.

OperatorDescriptionExampleEquivalent to
=Assign value of right side of expression to left side operandx = 2x = 2
+=Add right-side operand with left side operand and then assign to left operandx += 2x = x + 2
-=Subtract right operand from left operand and then assign to left operandx -= 2x = x - 2
*=Multiply right operand with left operand and then assign to left operandx *= 2x = x * 2
/=Divide left operand with right operand and then assign to left operandx /= 2x = x / 2
%=Takes modulus using left and right operands and assign the result to left operandx %= 2x = x % 2
//=Divide left operand with right operand and then assign the value(floor) to left operandx //= 2x = x // 2
**=Calculate exponent(raise power) value using operands and assign value to left operandx **= 2x = x ** 2
&=Performs Bitwise AND on operands and assign value to left operandx &= 2x = x & 2
&124;=Performs Bitwise OR on operands and assign value to left operandx &124;= 2x = x &124; 2
^=Performs Bitwise XOR on operands and assign value to left operandx ^= 2x = x ^ 2
>>=Performs Bitwise right shift on operands and assign value to left operandx >>= 2x = x >> 2
<<=Performs Bitwise left shift on operands and assign value to left operandx <<= 2x = x << 2

Examples

Assign

a = 2
b = 3
result = a + b
print(result) # 5

Add and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a += b # a = a + b
print(a) # 5

Subtract and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a -= b # a = a - b
print(a) # -1

Multiply and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a *= b # a = a * b
print(a) # 6

Divide and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a /= b # a = a / b
print(a) # 0.6666666666666666

Modulus and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a %= b # a = a % b
print(a) # 2

Divide (floor) and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a //= b # a = a // b
print(a) # 0

Exponent and Assign

a = 2
b = 3
a **= b # a = a ** b
print(a) # 8

Bitwise AND and Assign

a = 2    # 2 (0010)
b = 3 # 3 (0011)
a &= b # a = a & b
print(a) # 2 (0010)

Bitwise OR and Assign

a = 2    # 2 (0010)
b = 3 # 3 (0011)
a |= b # a = a | b
print(a) # 3 (0011)

Bitwise XOR and Assign

a = 2    # 2 (0010)
b = 3 # 3 (0011)
a ^= b # a = a ^ b
print(a) # 1 (0001)

Bitwise Right Shift and Assign

a = 2    # 2 (0010)
b = 3 # 3 (0011)
a >>= b # a = a >> b
print(a) # 0 (0000)

Bitwise Left Shift and Assign

a = 2    # 2  (0010)
b = 3 # 3 (0011)
a <<= b # a = a << b
print(a) # 16 (1000)