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8 Bitwise

Bitwise structures allow accessing and manipulating individual bits within an integer variable. While the smallest data type in C is a char (8 bits), sometimes only a single bit is needed, such as to represent the status (on/off) of multiple lights using a single variable. Bitwise operators like & (AND), | (OR), and ^ (XOR) allow setting, clearing, and checking individual bits by masking all but the desired bit. Shifting operators like << and >> are also used to position a single-bit mask over the desired bit. This approach uses memory more efficiently than storing each status in a separate variable.

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Sk Md Hisbur Rahman
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22 views13 pages

8 Bitwise

Bitwise structures allow accessing and manipulating individual bits within an integer variable. While the smallest data type in C is a char (8 bits), sometimes only a single bit is needed, such as to represent the status (on/off) of multiple lights using a single variable. Bitwise operators like & (AND), | (OR), and ^ (XOR) allow setting, clearing, and checking individual bits by masking all but the desired bit. Shifting operators like << and >> are also used to position a single-bit mask over the desired bit. This approach uses memory more efficiently than storing each status in a separate variable.

Uploaded by

Sk Md Hisbur Rahman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Programming Language

Bitwise Structures
What is Bitwise Structure?
• The smallest type is of 8 bits (char).
• Sometimes we need only a single bit.
• For instance, storing the status of the lights in 8 rooms:
▫ We need to define an array of at least 8 chars.
If the light of room 3 is turned on the value of
the third char is 1, otherwise 0.
▫ Total array of 64 bits.
What is Bitwise Structure?
• It is better to define only 8 bits since a bit can also store the values 0
or 1.
• But the problem is that there is no C type which is
1 bit long (char is the longer with 1 byte).
• Solution: define a char (8 bits) but refer to each bit separately.
• Bitwise operators, introduced by the C language, provide one of its
more powerful tools for using and manipulating memory. They give
the language the real power of a “low-level language”.
What is Bitwise Structure?
• Accessing bits directly is fast and efficient, especially if you are
writing a real-time application.
• A single bit cannot be accessed directly,
since it has no address of its own.
• The language introduces the bitwise operators, which help in
manipulating a
single bit of a byte.
• bitwise operators may be used on integral types only (unsigned
types are preferable).
What is Bitwise Structure?
• Accessing bits directly is fast and efficient, especially if you are
writing a real-time application.
• A single bit cannot be accessed directly,
since it has no address of its own.
• The language introduces the bitwise operators, which help in
manipulating a
single bit of a byte.
• bitwise operators may be used on integral types only (unsigned
types are preferable).
Bitwise Operators

& bitwise AND


| bitwise OR
^ bitwise XOR
~ 1’s compliment
<< Shift left
>> Shift right

All these operators can be suffixed with =


For instance a &= b; is the same as a = a & b;
Bitwise Operators – truth table
a b a&b a|b a^b ~a

0 0 0 0 0 1

0 1 0 1 1 1

1 0 0 1 1 0

1 1 1 1 0 0
Bitwise Operators - Examples
11010011 11010011 11010011
& | ^
10001100 10001100 10001100
------------ ------------ ------------
10000000 11011111 01011111

~11010011 11010011>>3 11010011<<3


------------ ------------ ------------
00101100 00011010 10011000
Setting Bits
• How can we set a bit on or off?
• Manipulations on bits are enabled by mask and bitwise operators.
• Bitwise OR of anything with 1 results in 1.
• Bitwise AND of anything with 0 results in 0.
Setting Bits
• For instance, how can we turn on the light in room #3?

lights: 00000000

char lights = 0x0; mask: 00000001


char mask = 0x1;
mask <<= 2;
lights |= mask; mask: 00000100

lights: 00000100
Setting Bits
• For instance, how can we turn off the light in room #3?

lights: 00100111

char lights = 0x27; mask: 11111011


char mask = 0xfb;
lights &= mask;
lights: 00100011
Getting Bits
• How can we know if a bit is on or off?
• Manipulations on bits are enabled by mask and bitwise operators.
• Bitwise AND of anything with 1 results in the same value.
Getting Bits
• For instance, how can we check if the light in room #3 is turned on or
off?

lights: 00100111
char lights = 0x27;
char mask = 0x1;
mask <<= 2; mask: 00000001
if(lights & mask)
mask: 00000100
puts(“turned on”);
else
puts(“turned off”); lights & mask: 00000100

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