bitwise operation
compound.compound. a way for a computer to process data by looking at the smallest pieces of information, called bits, one by one. It is a very fast method used in programming to change or compare binary numbers.
compound. a calculation performed on one or more bit patterns or binary numerals at the level of their individual bits. It involves logical operators such as AND, OR, XOR, and NOT to manipulate data with high computational efficiency.
The programmer uses a bitwise operation to check the system flags.
To optimize the graphics engine, the developer implemented a bitwise operation instead of standard multiplication to shift the pixel coordinates.
Low-level firmware often relies on a bitwise operation to mask specific bits within a hardware register, allowing for precise control over individual device components without affecting adjacent settings.
A compound formed from the noun bit, a portmanteau of binary digit, and the suffix -wise, denoting manner or respect. The term describes the level at which the manipulation occurs within the computing architecture.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly used in computer science and low-level programming contexts.
Last updated July 22, 2026