1. What is Left Shift Operation?

The left shift operation (<<) is a bitwise operation that moves all bits in a number to the left by specified positions, filling the rightmost bits with zeros. It's equivalent to multiplying the number by 2 raised to the power of the shift amount.

2. How Does Left Shift Work?

The left shift operation follows this formula:

Where:

• Number — The integer value to be shifted
• Bits — Number of positions to shift left (non-negative integer)

Example: 5 << 2 = 20 (because 5 × 2² = 5 × 4 = 20)

3. Practical Applications

Details: Left shift operations are commonly used in low-level programming for:

• Fast multiplication by powers of 2
• Bit manipulation in hardware registers
• Optimizing performance-critical code
• Creating bit masks

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter any integer number and the number of bits to shift left. The calculator will show the result of the bitwise left shift operation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens when you left shift beyond the integer size?
A: In most programming languages, the extra bits are discarded, which can lead to unexpected results or overflow.

Q2: Is left shift the same as multiplication by 2?
A: Yes, for single-bit shifts and positive numbers within range. Left shift by N bits is equivalent to multiplying by 2^N.

Q3: How does left shift work with negative numbers?
A: It depends on the representation (two's complement). The sign bit may be affected, potentially changing the number's sign.

Q4: What's the difference between arithmetic and logical left shift?
A: For left shifts, they're identical. The difference only matters for right shifts.

Q5: When should I use left shift vs multiplication?
A: Use left shift when you need explicit bit manipulation. Modern compilers often optimize multiplication by powers of 2 to use shifts automatically.