Introduction to Python Assignment Operators
Assignment Operators are used for assigning values to the variables. We can also say that assignment operators are used to assign values that are available on the right-hand side to the left-hand side operand. For example, in the below table, we are assigning a value to variable ‘a’, which is the left-side operand.
| Operator | Description | Example | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| = | Assignment | a = 2 | a = 2 |
| += | Addition and Assignment | a += 2 | a = a + 2 |
| -= | Subtraction and Assignment | a -= 2 | a = a – 2 |
| *= | Multiplication and Assignment | a *= 2 | a = a * 2 |
| /= | Division and Assignment | a /= 2 | a = a / 2 |
| %= | Modulus and Assignment | a %= 2 | a = a % 2 |
| //= | Floor Division and Assignment | a //= 2 | a = a // 2 |
| **= | Exponential and Assignment | a **= 2 | a = a ** 2 |
| &= | Bitwise AND and Assignment | a &= 2 | a = a & 2 |
| |= | Bitwise OR and Assignment | a |= 2 | a = a | 2 |
| ^= | Bitwise XOR and Assignment | a ^= 2 | a = a ^ 2 |
| >>= | Bitwise Right Shift and Assignment | a >>= 2 | a = a >> 2 |
| <<= | Bitwise Left Shift and Assignment | a <<= 3 | a = a << 2 |
The shorthand assignment operators
The operators like Addition and Assignment, Subtraction and Assignment, etc. are also known as the shorthand assignment operators because they provide the shorthand notation to perform the base task. There are also known as Augmented assignment operators.
Assignment Operators
Assignment Operator
Equal to sign ‘=’ is used as an assignment operator. It assigns values of the right-hand side expression to the variable or operand present on the left-hand side.
Assigns value 3 to variable ‘a’.
a = 3
print(a)
Addition and Assignment Operator
The addition and assignment operator adds left-side and right-side operands and then the sum is assigned to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a + 2.
a = 3
a += 2
print(a)
Subtraction and Assignment Operator
The subtraction and assignment operator subtracts the right-side operand from the left-side operand, and then the result is assigned to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a – 2.
a = 3
a -= 2
print(a)
Multiplication and Assignment Operator
The multiplication and assignment operator multiplies the right-side operand with the left-side operand, and then the result is assigned to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a * 2.
a = 3
a *= 2
print(a)
Division and Assignment Operator
The division and assignment operator divides the left-side operand with the right-side operand, and then the result is assigned to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a / 2.
a = 3
a /= 2
print(a)
Modulus and Assignment Operator
The modulus and assignment operator divides the left-side operand with the right-side operand, and then the remainder is assigned to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a % 3.
a = 8
a %= 3
print(a)
Floor Division and Assignment Operator
The floor division and assignment operator divides the left side operand with the right side operand. The result is rounded down to the closest integer value(i.e. floor value) and is assigned to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a // 3.
a = 8
a //= 3
print(a)
Exponential and Assignment Operator
The exponential and assignment operator raises the left-side operand to the power of the right-side operand, and the result is assigned to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a ** 3.
a = 2
a **= 3
print(a)
Bitwise AND and Assignment Operator
Bitwise AND and assignment operator performs bitwise AND operation on both the operands and assign the result to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a & 3.
a = 2
a &= 3
print(a)
Illustration:
| Numeric Value | Binary Value | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 010 | |
| 3 | 011 | |
| Bitwise AND | 2 | 010 |
Bitwise OR and Assignment Operator
Bitwise OR and assignment operator performs bitwise OR operation on both the operands and assign the result to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a | 3.
a = 2
a |= 3
print(a)
Illustration:
| Numeric Value | Binary Value | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 010 | |
| 3 | 011 | |
| Bitwise OR | 3 | 011 |
Bitwise XOR and Assignment Operator
Bitwise XOR and assignment operator performs bitwise XOR operation on both the operands and assign the result to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a ^ 3.
a = 2
a ^= 3
print(a)
Illustration:
| Numeric Value | Binary Value | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 010 | |
| 3 | 011 | |
| Bitwise XOR | 1 | 001 |
Bitwise Right Shift and Assignment Operator
Bitwise right shift and assignment operator right shifts the left operand by the right operand positions and assigns the result to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a >> 1.
a = 2
a >>= 1
print(a)
a = 4
a >>= 1
print(a)
Illustration:
| Numeric Input | Binary Value | Right shift by 1 | Numeric Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0010 | 0001 | 1 |
| 4 | 0100 | 0010 | 2 |
Bitwise Left Shift and Assignment Operator
Bitwise left shift and assignment operator left shifts the left operand by the right operand positions and assigns the result to the left-hand side operand.
Below code is equivalent to:
 a = a << 1.
a = 2
a <<= 1
print(a)
a = 4
a <<= 1
print(a)
Illustration:
| Numeric Input | Bitwise Value | Left shift by 1 | Numeric Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0010 | 0100 | 4 |
| 4 | 0100 | 1000 | 8 |
