What is the XOR operator?

The XOR operator is a bitwise operator. Bitwise operators operate on numbers as if they are sequence of bits. The XOR operator is denoted by the ^ symbol.

The XOR operator manipulates bits in such a way that if one of the corresponding bits in two input operands is 1, then the result is 1. Otherwise, the result is 0.

Given, 4 ^ 2, the binary equivalent of 4 is 00000100 and 2 is 00000010 (in 8-bit notation).

     00000100
     00000010
     00000110

Here, the result is 1 at all positions in which one of the operand bit is 1, and the result is 0 at all other positions.

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