Python Tutorial — Learn Python Step by Step

Python Operators

Operators perform operations on variables and values. Python supports arithmetic, comparison, logical, assignment, identity, and membership operators.

Arithmetic Operators

x, y = 10, 3
print(x + y)   # 13 (addition)
print(x - y)   # 7  (subtraction)
print(x * y)   # 30 (multiplication)
print(x / y)   # 3.333... (true division)
print(x // y)  # 3  (floor division)
print(x % y)   # 1  (modulus)
print(x ** y)  # 1000 (exponentiation)

Comparison and Logical

# Comparison (return bool)
print(5 == 5)    # True
print(5 != 3)    # True
print(5 > 3)     # True
print(5 <= 5)    # True

# Logical operators
print(True and False)   # False
print(True or False)    # True
print(not True)         # False

# Chained comparison (Python-specific!)
age = 25
print(18 <= age < 65)   # True (young adult)

Assignment Operators

x = 10
x += 5    # x = 15
x -= 3    # x = 12
x *= 2    # x = 24
x //= 4   # x = 6
x **= 2   # x = 36

Identity and Membership

# is / is not (identity — same object in memory)
a = [1, 2]
b = a
c = [1, 2]
print(a is b)      # True (same object)
print(a is c)      # False (equal but different objects)
print(a == c)      # True (same value)

# in / not in (membership)
fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
print("banana" in fruits)      # True
print("grape" not in fruits)   # True
print("h" in "hello")          # True

• Use == for value equality, is for identity (same object).
• Python supports chained comparisons: 1 < x < 10.
• in works on strings, lists, tuples, dicts (checks keys), and sets.