How does the bitwise XOR operator work in Python?

Can you explain how the bitwise XOR operator works in Python?

Sure! The bitwise XOR operator in Python is represented by the caret symbol (^). It compares each bit of two numbers and returns a new number where the bits are set to 1 if they are different, and 0 if they are the same.

Can you give me an example of how it works?

Of course! For example, if you have two integers, 5 (which is 0101 in binary) and 3 (which is 0011 in binary), using the XOR operator like this: 5 ^ 3 will give you 6 (which is 0110 in binary).

What happens if both bits are the same?

If both bits are the same, the result will be 0. For instance, 5 ^ 5 will yield 0 because all corresponding bits are the same.

Are there any practical uses for the XOR operator?

Yes, the XOR operator is often used in programming for tasks like toggling bits, checksums, and cryptography.