Bitwise Operators

Bitwise operators allow evaluation and manipulation of specific bits within an integer.

Bitwise Operators
Example Name Result
$a & $b And Bits that are set in both $a and $b are set.
$a | $b Or (inclusive or) Bits that are set in either $a or $b are set.
$a ^ $b Xor (exclusive or) Bits that are set in $a or $b but not both are set.
~ $a Not Bits that are set in $a are not set, and vice versa.
$a << $b Shift left Shift the bits of $a $b steps to the left (each step means "multiply by two")
$a >> $b Shift right Shift the bits of $a $b steps to the right (each step means "divide by two")

Bit shifting in PHP is arithmetic. Bits shifted off either end are discarded. Left shifts have zeros shifted in on the right while the sign bit is shifted out on the left, meaning the sign of an operand is not preserved. Right shifts have copies of the sign bit shifted in on the left, meaning the sign of an operand is preserved.

Use parentheses to ensure the desired precedence. For example, $a & $b == true evaluates the equivalency then the bitwise and; while ($a & $b) == true evaluates the bitwise and then the equivalency.

If both operands for the &, | and ^ operators are strings, then the operation will be performed on the ASCII values of the characters that make up the strings and the result will be a string. In all other cases, both operands will be converted to integers and the result will be an integer.

If the operand for the ~ operator is a string, the operation will be performed on the ASCII values of the characters that make up the string and the result will be a string, otherwise the operand and the result will be treated as integers.

Both operands and the result for the << and >> operators are always treated as integers. 

PHP's error_reporting ini setting uses bitwise values,
providing a real-world demonstration of turning
bits off. To show all errors, except for notices,
the php.ini file instructions say to use:
E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE
      

This works by starting with E_ALL:
00000000000000000111011111111111
Then taking the value of E_NOTICE...
00000000000000000000000000001000
... and inverting it via ~:
11111111111111111111111111110111
Finally, it uses AND (&) to find the bits turned
on in both values:
00000000000000000111011111110111
      

Another way to accomplish that is using XOR (^)
to find bits that are on in only one value or the other:
E_ALL ^ E_NOTICE
      

error_reporting can also be used to demonstrate turning bits on.
The way to show just errors and recoverable errors is:
E_ERROR | E_RECOVERABLE_ERROR
      

This process combines E_ERROR
00000000000000000000000000000001
and
00000000000000000001000000000000
using the OR (|) operator
to get the bits turned on in either value:
00000000000000000001000000000001

Example #1 Bitwise AND, OR and XOR operations on integers

<?php
/*
 * Ignore the top section,
 * it is just formatting to make output clearer.
 */

$format = '(%1$2d = %1$04b) = (%2$2d = %2$04b)'
        . ' %3$s (%4$2d = %4$04b)' . "\n";

echo <<<EOH
 ---------     ---------  -- ---------
 result        value      op test
 ---------     ---------  -- ---------
EOH;


/*
 * Here are the examples.
 */

$values = array(0, 1, 2, 4, 8);
$test = 1 + 4;

echo "\n Bitwise AND \n";
foreach ($values as $value) {
    $result = $value & $test;
    printf($format, $result, $value, '&', $test);
}

echo "\n Bitwise Inclusive OR \n";
foreach ($values as $value) {
    $result = $value | $test;
    printf($format, $result, $value, '|', $test);
}

echo "\n Bitwise Exclusive OR (XOR) \n";
foreach ($values as $value) {
    $result = $value ^ $test;
    printf($format, $result, $value, '^', $test);
}
?>

The above example will output:

 ---------     ---------  -- ---------
 result        value      op test
 ---------     ---------  -- ---------
 Bitwise AND
( 0 = 0000) = ( 0 = 0000) & ( 5 = 0101)
( 1 = 0001) = ( 1 = 0001) & ( 5 = 0101)
( 0 = 0000) = ( 2 = 0010) & ( 5 = 0101)
( 4 = 0100) = ( 4 = 0100) & ( 5 = 0101)
( 0 = 0000) = ( 8 = 1000) & ( 5 = 0101)

 Bitwise Inclusive OR
( 5 = 0101) = ( 0 = 0000) | ( 5 = 0101)
( 5 = 0101) = ( 1 = 0001) | ( 5 = 0101)
( 7 = 0111) = ( 2 = 0010) | ( 5 = 0101)
( 5 = 0101) = ( 4 = 0100) | ( 5 = 0101)
(13 = 1101) = ( 8 = 1000) | ( 5 = 0101)

 Bitwise Exclusive OR (XOR)
( 5 = 0101) = ( 0 = 0000) ^ ( 5 = 0101)
( 4 = 0100) = ( 1 = 0001) ^ ( 5 = 0101)
( 7 = 0111) = ( 2 = 0010) ^ ( 5 = 0101)
( 1 = 0001) = ( 4 = 0100) ^ ( 5 = 0101)
(13 = 1101) = ( 8 = 1000) ^ ( 5 = 0101)

Example #2 Bitwise XOR operations on strings

<?php
echo 12 ^ 9; // Outputs '5'

echo "12" ^ "9"; // Outputs the Backspace character (ascii 8)
                 // ('1' (ascii 49)) ^ ('9' (ascii 57)) = #8

echo "hallo" ^ "hello"; // Outputs the ascii values #0 #4 #0 #0 #0
                        // 'a' ^ 'e' = #4

echo 2 ^ "3"; // Outputs 1
              // 2 ^ ((int)"3") == 1

echo "2" ^ 3; // Outputs 1
              // ((int)"2") ^ 3 == 1
?>

Example #3 Bit shifting on integers

<?php
/*
 * Here are the examples.
 */

echo "\n--- BIT SHIFT RIGHT ON POSITIVE INTEGERS ---\n";

$val = 4;
$places = 1;
$res = $val >> $places;
p($res, $val, '>>', $places, 'copy of sign bit shifted into left side');

$val = 4;
$places = 2;
$res = $val >> $places;
p($res, $val, '>>', $places);

$val = 4;
$places = 3;
$res = $val >> $places;
p($res, $val, '>>', $places, 'bits shift out right side');

$val = 4;
$places = 4;
$res = $val >> $places;
p($res, $val, '>>', $places, 'same result as above; can not shift beyond 0');


echo "\n--- BIT SHIFT RIGHT ON NEGATIVE INTEGERS ---\n";

$val = -4;
$places = 1;
$res = $val >> $places;
p($res, $val, '>>', $places, 'copy of sign bit shifted into left side');

$val = -4;
$places = 2;
$res = $val >> $places;
p($res, $val, '>>', $places, 'bits shift out right side');

$val = -4;
$places = 3;
$res = $val >> $places;
p($res, $val, '>>', $places, 'same result as above; can not shift beyond -1');


echo "\n--- BIT SHIFT LEFT ON POSITIVE INTEGERS ---\n";

$val = 4;
$places = 1;
$res = $val << $places;
p($res, $val, '<<', $places, 'zeros fill in right side');

$val = 4;
$places = (PHP_INT_SIZE * 8) - 4;
$res = $val << $places;
p($res, $val, '<<', $places);

$val = 4;
$places = (PHP_INT_SIZE * 8) - 3;
$res = $val << $places;
p($res, $val, '<<', $places, 'sign bits get shifted out');

$val = 4;
$places = (PHP_INT_SIZE * 8) - 2;
$res = $val << $places;
p($res, $val, '<<', $places, 'bits shift out left side');


echo "\n--- BIT SHIFT LEFT ON NEGATIVE INTEGERS ---\n";

$val = -4;
$places = 1;
$res = $val << $places;
p($res, $val, '<<', $places, 'zeros fill in right side');

$val = -4;
$places = (PHP_INT_SIZE * 8) - 3;
$res = $val << $places;
p($res, $val, '<<', $places);

$val = -4;
$places = (PHP_INT_SIZE * 8) - 2;
$res = $val << $places;
p($res, $val, '<<', $places, 'bits shift out left side, including sign bit');


/*
 * Ignore this bottom section,
 * it is just formatting to make output clearer.
 */

function p($res, $val, $op, $places, $note = '') {
    $format = '%0' . (PHP_INT_SIZE * 8) . "b\n";

    printf("Expression: %d = %d %s %d\n", $res, $val, $op, $places);

    echo " Decimal:\n";
    printf("  val=%d\n", $val);
    printf("  res=%d\n", $res);

    echo " Binary:\n";
    printf('  val=' . $format, $val);
    printf('  res=' . $format, $res);

    if ($note) {
        echo " NOTE: $note\n";
    }

    echo "\n";
}
?>

Output of the above example on 32 bit machines:


--- BIT SHIFT RIGHT ON POSITIVE INTEGERS ---
Expression: 2 = 4 >> 1
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=2
 Binary:
  val=00000000000000000000000000000100
  res=00000000000000000000000000000010
 NOTE: copy of sign bit shifted into left side

Expression: 1 = 4 >> 2
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=1
 Binary:
  val=00000000000000000000000000000100
  res=00000000000000000000000000000001

Expression: 0 = 4 >> 3
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=0
 Binary:
  val=00000000000000000000000000000100
  res=00000000000000000000000000000000
 NOTE: bits shift out right side

Expression: 0 = 4 >> 4
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=0
 Binary:
  val=00000000000000000000000000000100
  res=00000000000000000000000000000000
 NOTE: same result as above; can not shift beyond 0


--- BIT SHIFT RIGHT ON NEGATIVE INTEGERS ---
Expression: -2 = -4 >> 1
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=-2
 Binary:
  val=11111111111111111111111111111100
  res=11111111111111111111111111111110
 NOTE: copy of sign bit shifted into left side

Expression: -1 = -4 >> 2
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=-1
 Binary:
  val=11111111111111111111111111111100
  res=11111111111111111111111111111111
 NOTE: bits shift out right side

Expression: -1 = -4 >> 3
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=-1
 Binary:
  val=11111111111111111111111111111100
  res=11111111111111111111111111111111
 NOTE: same result as above; can not shift beyond -1


--- BIT SHIFT LEFT ON POSITIVE INTEGERS ---
Expression: 8 = 4 << 1
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=8
 Binary:
  val=00000000000000000000000000000100
  res=00000000000000000000000000001000
 NOTE: zeros fill in right side

Expression: 1073741824 = 4 << 28
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=1073741824
 Binary:
  val=00000000000000000000000000000100
  res=01000000000000000000000000000000

Expression: -2147483648 = 4 << 29
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=-2147483648
 Binary:
  val=00000000000000000000000000000100
  res=10000000000000000000000000000000
 NOTE: sign bits get shifted out

Expression: 0 = 4 << 30
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=0
 Binary:
  val=00000000000000000000000000000100
  res=00000000000000000000000000000000
 NOTE: bits shift out left side


--- BIT SHIFT LEFT ON NEGATIVE INTEGERS ---
Expression: -8 = -4 << 1
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=-8
 Binary:
  val=11111111111111111111111111111100
  res=11111111111111111111111111111000
 NOTE: zeros fill in right side

Expression: -2147483648 = -4 << 29
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=-2147483648
 Binary:
  val=11111111111111111111111111111100
  res=10000000000000000000000000000000

Expression: 0 = -4 << 30
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=0
 Binary:
  val=11111111111111111111111111111100
  res=00000000000000000000000000000000
 NOTE: bits shift out left side, including sign bit

Output of the above example on 64 bit machines:


--- BIT SHIFT RIGHT ON POSITIVE INTEGERS ---
Expression: 2 = 4 >> 1
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=2
 Binary:
  val=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100
  res=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010
 NOTE: copy of sign bit shifted into left side

Expression: 1 = 4 >> 2
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=1
 Binary:
  val=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100
  res=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001

Expression: 0 = 4 >> 3
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=0
 Binary:
  val=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100
  res=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 NOTE: bits shift out right side

Expression: 0 = 4 >> 4
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=0
 Binary:
  val=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100
  res=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 NOTE: same result as above; can not shift beyond 0


--- BIT SHIFT RIGHT ON NEGATIVE INTEGERS ---
Expression: -2 = -4 >> 1
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=-2
 Binary:
  val=1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111100
  res=1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111110
 NOTE: copy of sign bit shifted into left side

Expression: -1 = -4 >> 2
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=-1
 Binary:
  val=1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111100
  res=1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
 NOTE: bits shift out right side

Expression: -1 = -4 >> 3
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=-1
 Binary:
  val=1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111100
  res=1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
 NOTE: same result as above; can not shift beyond -1


--- BIT SHIFT LEFT ON POSITIVE INTEGERS ---
Expression: 8 = 4 << 1
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=8
 Binary:
  val=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100
  res=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001000
 NOTE: zeros fill in right side

Expression: 4611686018427387904 = 4 << 60
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=4611686018427387904
 Binary:
  val=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100
  res=0100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Expression: -9223372036854775808 = 4 << 61
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=-9223372036854775808
 Binary:
  val=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100
  res=1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 NOTE: sign bits get shifted out

Expression: 0 = 4 << 62
 Decimal:
  val=4
  res=0
 Binary:
  val=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000100
  res=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 NOTE: bits shift out left side


--- BIT SHIFT LEFT ON NEGATIVE INTEGERS ---
Expression: -8 = -4 << 1
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=-8
 Binary:
  val=1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111100
  res=1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111000
 NOTE: zeros fill in right side

Expression: -9223372036854775808 = -4 << 61
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=-9223372036854775808
 Binary:
  val=1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111100
  res=1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Expression: 0 = -4 << 62
 Decimal:
  val=-4
  res=0
 Binary:
  val=1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111100
  res=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 NOTE: bits shift out left side, including sign bit

Warning

Prior to PHP 7.0, shifting integers by values greater than or equal to the system long integer width, or by negative numbers, results in undefined behavior. In other words, if you're using PHP 5.x, don't shift more than 31 bits on a 32-bit system, and don't shift more than 63 bits on 64-bit system.

Use functions from the gmp extension for bitwise manipulation on numbers beyond PHP_INT_MAX.

See also pack(), unpack(), gmp_and(), gmp_or(), gmp_xor(), gmp_testbit(), gmp_clrbit()