IT

Free Online Bitwise Calculator | AND, OR, XOR, NOT Operations

Perform bitwise operations (AND, OR, XOR, NOT, shifts) on integers instantly.

View results in both decimal and binary formats. Perfect for developers and students.

Bitwise Calculators
Perform bitwise operations on binary numbers
Bitwise Operations Calculator
Perform bitwise operations (AND, OR, XOR, NOT, shifts) on integers and see binary representations

Enter any integer for bitwise operations

Required for AND, OR, and XOR operations

Enter numbers to see results

Bitwise operations work with integers. Enter valid numbers to perform calculations.

How to Use the Bitwise Calculator

Follow these simple steps to perform bitwise operations:

1

Enter your first integer in the 'First Number' field (e.g., 42)

2

Optionally enter a second integer for AND, OR, and XOR operations

3

Toggle display options to show formatted binary or detailed explanations

4

View instant results as you type - all operations update automatically

5

Use the reset button to clear all inputs and start over

Powerful Bitwise Operations Features

All major bitwise operations: AND (&), OR (|), XOR (^), NOT (~), Left Shift (<<), Right Shift (>>)
Real-time calculation - see results instantly as you type
Dual format display - view results in both decimal and 32-bit binary
Formatted binary view with 8-bit grouping for better readability
Support for both positive and negative integers using two's complement
Optional second number for comparative operations (AND, OR, XOR)
Detailed explanations toggle to understand each operation
No installation required - works entirely in your browser
Mobile-friendly design for on-the-go calculations

Try These Examples

Bit Masking Example

Enter 15 and 8 to see how AND operation checks if bit 3 is set: 15 & 8 = 8

Flag Combination

Use 1 and 2 with OR operation to combine flags: 1 | 2 = 3

Bit Difference Finder

Enter 12 and 10 with XOR to find differing bits: 12 ^ 10 = 6

Efficient Multiplication

Enter any number and see left shift multiply by 2: 7 << 1 = 14

Binary Inversion

Enter 42 to see NOT operation and two's complement: ~42 = -43

Common Use Cases

Programming & Development

Debug bit manipulation code, verify flag operations, optimize algorithms using bitwise tricks instead of arithmetic operations

Computer Science Learning

Understand binary operations, number systems, and how computers perform arithmetic at the bit level

Embedded Systems

Work with register manipulation, hardware control, and configure device settings using bitwise operations

Algorithm Design

Implement efficient solutions for problems involving flags, masks, and binary patterns

Cryptography & Security

Explore XOR operations for simple ciphers and understand bit-level operations in encryption algorithms

Understanding Bitwise Operations

Bitwise operations work at the most fundamental level of computer arithmetic - individual bits. Unlike regular arithmetic operations that work with entire numbers, bitwise operations manipulate each bit (0 or 1) independently.

**AND (&)**: Compares each bit of two numbers and sets the result bit to 1 only if both bits are 1. Essential for bit masking - checking if specific bits are set while ignoring others.

**OR (|)**: Sets each bit to 1 if at least one of the corresponding bits is 1. Perfect for combining multiple flags or setting specific bits without affecting others.

**XOR (^)**: Sets each bit to 1 only if the corresponding bits differ. Invaluable in cryptography, error detection, and finding differences between binary states.

**NOT (~)**: Inverts all bits of a number, creating the one's complement. In two's complement representation, this effectively gives you the negative value plus one.

**Left Shift (<<)**: Shifts all bits left by the specified number of positions, filling empty positions with 0s. Each left shift multiplies the number by 2.

**Right Shift (>>)**: Shifts bits right, preserving the sign bit for negative numbers. Each right shift divides the number by 2 (integer division).

These operations are crucial in low-level programming, embedded systems, graphics programming, and algorithm optimization where performance and memory efficiency are critical.

Common Mistakes & Pro Tips

Mistake

Forgetting operator precedence

Tip

Remember that bitwise operators have lower precedence than arithmetic operators. Use parentheses to ensure correct order of operations.

Mistake

Not understanding two's complement

Tip

Negative numbers use two's complement representation. When you NOT a positive number, you get its negative value minus one (e.g., ~5 = -6).

Mistake

Shifting by too many bits

Tip

In JavaScript, shifting by more than 31 bits results in unexpected behavior. Keep shift values within reasonable bounds.

Mistake

Confusing logical and bitwise operators

Tip

Use && for logical AND, || for logical OR. Use &, | for bitwise operations. Mixing them up leads to bugs.

Mistake

Not considering overflow

Tip

Bitwise operations work with 32-bit integers in JavaScript. Be aware of overflow when working with large numbers.

Mistake

Ignoring the sign bit

Tip

The most significant bit (bit 31) represents the sign in two's complement. Right shift preserves this bit for negative numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this bitwise calculator free to use?

Yes, completely free! No registration, downloads, or limitations. Use it as much as you need.

What number range does this calculator support?

It supports 32-bit integers, from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647. Results are displayed in 32-bit binary format.

Are my calculations private and secure?

Absolutely! All calculations happen in your browser. No data is sent to servers, ensuring complete privacy.

Can I use hexadecimal or octal numbers?

Currently accepts decimal input, but displays results in both decimal and binary. Convert hex/octal to decimal first if needed.

Why does NOT operation give negative numbers?

NOT uses two's complement for negative numbers. When you invert bits of a positive number, you get its two's complement negative value.

What's the difference between left shift and multiplying by 2?

Left shift is much faster and more efficient for multiplication by powers of 2. However, be aware of overflow with large shifts.

Can I perform multi-bit shifts?

The calculator shows single-bit shifts. For multi-bit shifts, chain the operations or use programming languages that support n-bit shifts.

Is this suitable for learning computer science?

Perfect! The visual binary representations and instant feedback make it ideal for understanding bitwise operations and binary arithmetic.