Which bitwise operator is suitable for checking whether a particular bit is ON or OFF in C ?

Bitwise AND operator.

Which Bitwise Operator to Use for Checking Bit Status in C?

If you're working with bits in the C programming language, you'll need to know which bitwise operator is best suited for checking whether a specific bit is ON or OFF. Let's explore your options:

The Bitwise AND Operator (&):

• The bitwise AND operator is commonly used to mask bits.
• To check if a particular bit is ON, perform a bitwise AND operation between the number and a bitmask with only that bit set (all other bits are zero).

Example:

if (number & (1 << bit_position)) {
    // Bit is ON
}

The Bitwise OR Operator (|):

• While the OR operator is not typically used for checking individual bits, it can be used in specific situations.

Example:

if (number | (1 << bit_position)) {
    // Bit is either ON or OFF
}

The Bitwise XOR Operator (^):

• The XOR operator is used for toggling bits.
• To check if a specific bit is ON, perform a bitwise XOR operation between the number and a bitmask with only that bit set.

Example:

if (number ^ (1 << bit_position)) {
    // Bit is ON
}

The Bitwise NOT Operator (~):

• The NOT operator is not typically used for checking individual bits.

Example:

if (~number & (1 << bit_position)) {
    // Bit is OFF
}

Using Bit Manipulation Functions (Optional):

• In addition to using operators, C provides bit manipulation functions (such as test_bit() or check_bit()) that can be used for bit checking.

Example:

if (test_bit(number, bit_position)) {
    // Bit is ON
}

Conclusion:

Each of these operators has its own specific use cases, but for checking whether a particular bit is ON or OFF, the bitwise AND operator (&) is the most commonly used in C programming.

Remember to use appropriate comments and variable names for clarity and maintainability in your code.