Operators in Dart Programming Language

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.dev/language" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dart, as they enable you to perform a wide range of operations, from basic arithmetic to complex logical and bitwise manipulations. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of operators available in Dart and how they can be used effectively in your code.

What is Operators in Dart Programming Language?

In Dart programming language, operators are special symbols or keywords used to perform operations on operands (values or variables). They are essential for manipulating data, making decisions, and controlling the flow of programs. Dart provides a wide range of operators, each serving different purposes. Here’s an overview of the key types of operators available in Dart:

Types of Operators in Dart

1. Arithmetic Operators

Addition (+): Adds two operands

int sum = 5 + 3; // sum = 8

Subtraction (-): Subtracts the second operand from the first.

int difference = 5 - 3; // difference = 2

Multiplication (*): Multiplies two operands.

int product = 5 * 3; // product = 15

Division (/): Divides the first operand by the second, resulting in a double.

double quotient = 5 / 2; // quotient = 2.5

Modulo (%): Returns the remainder of the division of two operands.

int remainder = 5 % 2; // remainder = 1

2. Relational Operators

Equal to (==): Checks if two operands are equal.

bool isEqual = (5 == 5); // isEqual = true

Not equal to (!=): Checks if two operands are not equal.

bool isNotEqual = (5 != 3); // isNotEqual = true

Greater than (>): Checks if the first operand is greater than the second.

bool isGreater = (5 > 3); // isGreater = true

Less than (<): Checks if the first operand is less than the second.

bool isLess = (5 < 10); // isLess = true

Greater than or equal to (>=): Checks if the first operand is greater than or equal to the second.

bool isGreaterOrEqual = (5 >= 5); // isGreaterOrEqual = true

Less than or equal to (<=): Checks if the first operand is less than or equal to the second.

bool isLessOrEqual = (5 <= 7); // isLessOrEqual = true

3. Logical Operators

AND (&&): Returns true if both operands are true.

bool result = (5 > 3 && 3 < 10); // result = true

OR (||): Returns true if at least one of the operands is true.

bool result = (5 > 3 || 3 > 10); // result = true

NOT (!): Inverts the boolean value of the operand.

bool result = !(5 > 3); // result = false

4. Assignment Operators

Simple assignment (=): Assigns a value to a variable.

int a = 5;

Add and assign (+=): Adds the right operand to the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand.

a += 3; // a = 8

Subtract and assign (-=): Subtracts the right operand from the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand.

a -= 2; // a = 6

Multiply and assign (*=): Multiplies the left operand by the right operand and assigns the result to the left operand.

a *= 2; // a = 12

Divide and assign (/=): Divides the left operand by the right operand and assigns the result to the left operand.

a /= 3; // a = 4

5. Bitwise Operators

AND (&): Performs a bitwise AND operation.

int result = 5 & 3; // result = 1

OR (|): Performs a bitwise OR operation.

int result = 5 | 3; // result = 7

XOR (^): Performs a bitwise XOR operation.

int result = 5 ^ 3; // result = 6

NOT (~): Performs a bitwise NOT operation.

int result = ~5; // result = -6

Left shift (<<): Shifts the bits of the first operand left by the number of positions specified by the second operand.

int result = 5 << 2; // result = 20

Right shift (>>): Shifts the bits of the first operand right by the number of positions specified by the second operand.

int result = 5 >> 1; // result = 2

6. Conditional (Ternary) Operator

Conditional (? :): Returns one of two values based on a condition.

String result = (5 > 3) ? 'Yes' : 'No'; // result = 'Yes'

Null-aware Operators

Null coalescing (??): Returns the left operand if it is not null; otherwise, returns the right operand.

String name = null;
String greeting = name ?? 'Guest'; // greeting = 'Guest'

Null-aware assignment (??=): Assigns a value to a variable only if it is null.

String name;
name ??= 'Guest'; // name = 'Guest'

Null-aware access (?.): Accesses a property or method only if the object is not null.

int length = name?.length ?? 0; // length = 0

Advantages of Operators in Dart Programming Language

Concise and Readable Code: Operators allow you to perform complex operations in a simple and straightforward way. For example, instead of writing multiple lines of code to add two numbers and assign the result to a variable, you can use the + operator in a single line. This enhances code readability and reduces the chances of errors.

Efficient Data Manipulation: Operators in Dart provide a quick and efficient way to manipulate data. Whether you need to perform arithmetic calculations, compare values, or manipulate bits, operators offer built-in functionality that is optimized for performance.

Simplified Decision Making: With logical and relational operators, you can easily implement decision-making logic in your code. These operators allow you to evaluate conditions and execute specific code blocks based on whether those conditions are true or false, which is essential for controlling program flow.

Support for Null Safety: Dart includes null-aware operators like ??, ??=, and ?., which help prevent null reference errors. These operators allow you to write safer code by providing default values or safely accessing properties and methods of potentially null objects.

Enhanced Code Expressiveness: Operators like the ternary (?:) operator enable more expressive code. For example, you can use a single line of code to choose between two values based on a condition, making your code more elegant and easier to understand.

Disadvantages of Operators in Dart Programming Language

Complexity in Understanding: For beginners, the wide variety of operators in Dart can be overwhelming and difficult to grasp. Understanding how each operator works, especially more advanced ones like bitwise and null-aware operators, may require a deep understanding of both the language and the underlying concepts.

Potential for Misuse: Operators can be misused or overused, leading to code that is difficult to read and maintain. For example, chaining multiple operators in a single line can result in code that is hard to understand, increasing the likelihood of errors.

Ambiguity in Expressions: Certain operators, particularly those with similar syntax (like == and =), can introduce ambiguity in code. This might lead to unintended bugs, especially if a developer accidentally uses the wrong operator, such as using assignment (=) instead of equality (==) in a conditional statement.

Limited Operator Overloading: Dart does not support full operator overloading, which means you cannot define custom behavior for all operators on user-defined classes. While some operators can be overloaded, this limitation can reduce flexibility when working with complex data structures or custom types.