How to Calculate the Bitwise AND of Two Numbers?

The bitwise AND operation compares the corresponding bits of two numbers. If both bits are 1, the result is 1; otherwise, it's 0.

Here's a breakdown:

Understanding Bitwise AND

• Binary Representation: Numbers are converted to their binary form (base-2). Each digit in a binary number represents a power of 2.
• Bitwise Operation: The AND operation is applied to each corresponding bit position of the two numbers.
• Result: The resulting binary number represents the bitwise AND of the original numbers.

Example

Let's calculate the bitwise AND of 5 and 3:

1. Binary Representation:

   • 5 = 101 (binary)
   • 3 = 011 (binary)

2. Bitwise AND:

   101
   011
   ---
   001

3. Result:

   • 001 (binary) = 1 (decimal)

Therefore, the bitwise AND of 5 and 3 is 1.

Practical Applications

Bitwise AND is used in various programming scenarios, such as:

• Checking Bits: To determine if a specific bit in a number is set (1).
• Masking: To extract specific bits from a number.
• Setting Bits: To selectively turn on specific bits in a number.

Conclusion

The bitwise AND operation is a fundamental concept in computer programming, allowing you to manipulate individual bits within numbers. Understanding this operation is crucial for working with data at the bit level.