How do bitwise operators compare in performance to arithmetic operators?

How do bitwise operators compare in performance to arithmetic operators?

Bitwise operators are generally faster than arithmetic operators because they operate directly on the binary representations of numbers.

Can you give me an example of a bitwise operation?

Sure! For instance, the bitwise AND operation (&) takes two binary numbers and performs the AND operation on each pair of corresponding bits.

Are there specific scenarios where I should prefer bitwise over arithmetic?

Yes, bitwise operators are particularly useful in low-level programming, graphics, and performance-critical applications where speed is essential.

What about readability? Do bitwise operators make code harder to understand?

They can be less readable for those unfamiliar with them, so it's important to use comments or clear variable names to maintain code clarity.