What is operator? - Definition from WhatIs.com
Part of the Mathematics glossary:

1. In mathematics and sometimes in computer programming, an operator is a character that represents an action, as for example x is an arithmetic operator that represents multiplication. In computer programs, one of the most familiar sets of operators, the Boolean operators, is used to work with true/false values. Boolean operators include AND, OR, NOT (or AND NOT), and NEAR. These (and variations such as XOR) are used in logic gate s. You may have used Boolean operators in a search engine , by entering a phrase such as Galileo AND satellite (some search engines require the operator be capitalized) to find information. Among the other types of operators used in computer programming are: assignment operators , which assign a specified value to another value and relational operators , which compare two values.

2. A system operator , sometimes called a sysop , is a person who runs a server .

3. Traditionally, a computer operator is someone who manages the computer systems in a computer room.

This was last updated in September 2005
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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