My code:
a = 7
b = 5
print((a and b))
Output: 5
Why is the output 5? Doesn't logical operator gives True or False output? Why isnt it raising any errors ?
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1Why are you assuming that's a logical operator? It's printing a bitwise operation result... According to what documentation should an error be raised? – OneCricketeer Apr 26 '23 at 13:09
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and is used and isn't it a logical operator. Also why is the output 5 – A Ki Nir Apr 26 '23 at 13:13
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The rule for Python's `and` is: If `a` is "truthy" (seen as true) `b` is returned, `a` otherwise. – Michael Butscher Apr 26 '23 at 13:13
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1I think that's a good question. One might expect `a and b` to do something like `bool(a) and (bool)b`, returning either True or False. That's not how the `and` operator works in python though. – Sembei Norimaki Apr 26 '23 at 13:13
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3@AndyPreston `7 & 5` would be the bitwise operation (and also results in `5`). – jonrsharpe Apr 26 '23 at 13:15
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2It has nothing to do with binaries, check `2 and 4` vs `2 & 4` and also `666 and 'YUP'`, for example. – Nikolaj Š. Apr 26 '23 at 13:15
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7 and 5 was a bad example, FWIW, since the bitwise and logical operator are the same result... If you did `5 and 7`, then that would be a better representation of what you're trying to ask – OneCricketeer Apr 26 '23 at 13:15
2 Answers
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In Python, the logical operator and returns the first operand if it evaluates to False, otherwise it returns the second operand.
In this case, both a and b are considered True because they are not equal to zero, so the expression (a and b) evaluates to the second operand, which is b with a value of 5.
So the output of print((a and b)) is 5.
Alex
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