PythonAssignment Operators

Assignment Operators in Python

Assignment operators are used to assign values to variables. In addition to simple assignment (=), Python provides compound assignment operators that combine arithmetic or bitwise operations with assignment — helping to write more concise and readable code.

List of Assignment Operators

OperatorSymbolDescription
Simple Assignment=Assigns the right-hand value to the left-hand variable
Add and Assign+=Adds right operand to left operand and assigns the result
Subtract and Assign-=Subtracts right operand from left operand and assigns the result
Multiply and Assign*=Multiplies left operand by right operand and assigns the result
Divide and Assign/=Divides left operand by right operand and assigns the result
Modulus and Assign%=Performs modulus operation and assigns the result
Floor Divide and Assign//=Floor division and assign
Exponent and Assign**=Raises left operand to power of right operand and assigns result

1. Simple Assignment (=)

Assigns the value of the right-hand side to the left-hand variable.

assignment_equal.py
x = 10
y = 5
print("x =", x)
print("y =", y)
output.txt
x = 10
y = 5

Explanation:

  • The = operator assigns the value on the right to the variable on the left.
  • It does not compare; it stores the value.

2. Add and Assign (+=)

Adds a value to the variable and updates the variable.

assignment_add.py
count = 5
count += 3
print("count =", count)
output.txt
count = 8

Example 2: String Concatenation with +=

assignment_add_string.py
greeting = "Hello"
greeting += " World"
print(greeting)
output.txt
Hello World

Example 3: Using in Loops

assignment_add_loop.py
total = 0
for i in range(1, 6):
    total += i
print(total)
output.txt
15

3. Subtract and Assign (-=)

Subtracts a value and updates the variable.

assignment_subtract.py
balance = 100
balance -= 20
print("balance =", balance)
output.txt
balance = 80

Example 2: Countdown

assignment_subtract_loop.py
countdown = 10
while countdown > 0:
    countdown -= 1
print("Finished!")
output.txt
Finished!

Example 3: Negative Result

assignment_subtract_negative.py
num = 5
num -= 10
print(num)
output.txt
-5

4. Multiply and Assign (*=)

Multiplies the variable by a value and updates it.

assignment_multiply.py
points = 10
points *= 2
print("points =", points)
output.txt
points = 20

Example 2: Geometric Growth

assignment_multiply_loop.py
x = 2
for i in range(3):
    x *= 2
print(x)
output.txt
16

Example 3: String Repetition

assignment_multiply_string.py
stars = "*"
stars *= 5
print(stars)
output.txt
*****

5. Divide and Assign (/=)

Divides the variable by a value and updates it (result is float).

assignment_divide.py
price = 100
price /= 4
print("price =", price)
output.txt
price = 25.0

Example 2: Division Resulting in Float

assignment_divide_float.py
num = 9
num /= 2
print(num)
output.txt
4.5

Example 3: Multiple Divisions

assignment_divide_loop.py
value = 64
for _ in range(3):
    value /= 2
print(value)
output.txt
8.0

6. Modulus and Assign (%=)

Performs modulus (remainder) operation and updates variable.

assignment_modulus.py
number = 10
number %= 3
print(number)
output.txt
1

Example 2: Even or Odd

assignment_modulus_even_odd.py
n = 7
n %= 2
print(n)
output.txt
1

Example 3: Loop with Modulus

assignment_modulus_loop.py
total = 20
while total > 0:
    total %= 7
    break
print(total)
output.txt
6

7. Floor Divide and Assign (//=)

Performs floor division and updates variable (integer result).

assignment_floor_divide.py
value = 25
value //= 4
print(value)
output.txt
6

Example 2: Reducing Value

assignment_floor_loop.py
x = 100
x //= 3
print(x)
output.txt
33

Example 3: Countdown to Zero

assignment_floor_zero.py
num = 10
num //= 5
print(num)
output.txt
2

8. Exponent and Assign (**=)

Raises variable to a power and updates it.

assignment_exponent.py
base = 2
base **= 3
print(base)
output.txt
8

Example 2: Squaring a Number

assignment_exponent_square.py
num = 5
num **= 2
print(num)
output.txt
25

Example 3: Power Series

assignment_exponent_loop.py
value = 3
for _ in range(2):
    value **= 2
print(value)
output.txt
81

Summary

  • Assignment operators assign values to variables.
  • Compound operators like +=, -=, *=, and others make code shorter and more expressive.
  • They are commonly used in loops, counters, and aggregations.
  • Mastering these operators improves both performance and clarity of your Python code.
Logical OperatorsBitwise Operators