Operators in Python: Complete Guide with Examples

Quick answer: Learn Python operators including arithmetic, comparison, logical, assignment, identity and membership operators, with examples and operator precedence.

Arithmetic Operators

a, b = 10, 3

print(a + b)    # 13
print(a - b)    # 7
print(a * b)    # 30
print(a / b)    # 3.333... (true division, always returns a float)
print(a // b)   # 3   (floor division, discards the remainder)
print(a % b)    # 1   (modulus, the remainder)
print(a ** b)   # 1000 (exponentiation)

Comparison Operators

print(5 == 5)   # True
print(5 != 3)   # True
print(5 > 3)    # True
print(5 <= 5)   # True

Logical Operators

age = 25
has_id = True

print(age >= 18 and has_id)   # True, both must be true
print(age < 18 or has_id)     # True, at least one is true
print(not has_id)             # False

Assignment Operators

x = 10
x += 5   # same as x = x + 5, x is now 15
x -= 3   # x is now 12
x *= 2   # x is now 24
x //= 5  # x is now 4

Identity Operators: is vs ==

a = [1, 2, 3]
b = [1, 2, 3]
c = a

print(a == c)   # True, same values
print(a is c)   # True, same object in memory
print(a is b)   # False, different objects, even though values are equal

Use == to compare values. Use is to check whether two names refer to the exact same object in memory, which matters most when checking for None: use "if x is None" rather than "if x == None".

Membership Operators: in and not in

fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']

print('banana' in fruits)       # True
print('mango' not in fruits)    # True

Operator Precedence

Python evaluates expressions in a defined order: parentheses first, then exponentiation, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction, then comparisons, then logical operators. When in doubt, use parentheses to make the intended order explicit.

result = 2 + 3 * 4      # 14, not 20, since multiplication happens first
result2 = (2 + 3) * 4   # 20, parentheses override default precedence

Common Interview Questions

What is the difference between == and is?

== compares values for equality. is compares object identity, checking whether two names point to the exact same object in memory.

What is the difference between / and // in Python?

/ always performs true division and returns a float. // performs floor division, discarding any remainder and returning a whole number result.