Bit Shift Calculator
Perform left and right bit shift operations with step-by-step explanations
Bit Shift Calculator
Number of bits for calculation and result representation
Enter decimal number
Left shift multiplies by powers of 2
Number of positions to shift (0 to 8)
Example Bit Shifts
Left Shift Examples
Left shift by n positions = multiply by 2^n
Right Shift Examples
Right shift by n positions = divide by 2^n
Bit Shift Rules
Left Shift (<<)
- • Moves bits to the left
- • Fills right with zeros
- • Multiplies by 2^n
- • May cause overflow
Right Shift (>>)
- • Moves bits to the right
- • Arithmetic shift (preserves sign)
- • Divides by 2^n
- • Rounds down for positive numbers
Powers of 2
Bit Shift Tips
Left shift is fast multiplication by powers of 2
Right shift is fast division by powers of 2
Watch for overflow in left shifts
Arithmetic right shift preserves sign
Understanding Bit Shift Operations
What are Bit Shifts?
Bit shifting is a bitwise operation that moves the bits of a binary number to the left or right by a specified number of positions. It's a fundamental operation in computer science and digital electronics.
Applications:
- • Fast multiplication and division by powers of 2
- • Memory optimization in programming
- • Digital signal processing
- • Graphics and image processing
- • Cryptography and hash functions
Types of Bit Shifts
Logical Left Shift
Moves bits left, fills with zeros on the right. Equivalent to multiplication by 2^n.
Arithmetic Right Shift
Moves bits right, preserves the sign bit for negative numbers. Equivalent to division by 2^n.
Overflow Behavior
When bits are shifted beyond the available bit width, they are lost. Left shifts can cause overflow, while right shifts may lose precision.