{"id":3556,"date":"2026-11-11T12:00:06","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T12:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gyanipandit.com\/programming\/?p=3556"},"modified":"2026-11-11T12:00:06","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T12:00:06","slug":"python-assignment-operators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gyanipandit.com\/programming\/python-assignment-operators\/","title":{"rendered":"Python Assignment Operators with Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"

Assignment operators store a value in a variable. The basic one is =<\/code>. The others, called augmented assignment operators<\/strong>, update a variable using its current value: score += 5<\/code> is a short way of writing score = score + 5<\/code>. You will use them constantly in loops, counters and running totals.<\/p>\n

Python Assignment Operators Table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Operator<\/th>\nExample<\/th>\nSame as<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
=<\/code><\/td>\nx = 10<\/code><\/td>\nstore 10 in x<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
+=<\/code><\/td>\nx += 5<\/code><\/td>\nx = x + 5<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
-=<\/code><\/td>\nx -= 3<\/code><\/td>\nx = x - 3<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*=<\/code><\/td>\nx *= 2<\/code><\/td>\nx = x * 2<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\/=<\/code><\/td>\nx \/= 4<\/code><\/td>\nx = x \/ 4<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\/\/=<\/code><\/td>\nx \/\/= 5<\/code><\/td>\nx = x \/\/ 5<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
%=<\/code><\/td>\nx %= 5<\/code><\/td>\nx = x % 5<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
**=<\/code><\/td>\nx **= 4<\/code><\/td>\nx = x ** 4<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
&=<\/code>, |=<\/code>, ^=<\/code><\/td>\nx &= 10<\/code><\/td>\nx = x & 10<\/code> (bitwise)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<<=<\/code>, >>=<\/code><\/td>\nx <<= 2<\/code><\/td>\nx = x << 2<\/code><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
:=<\/code><\/td>\n(n := len(data))<\/code><\/td>\nassign inside an expression (“walrus”)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Arithmetic Assignment Operators<\/h2>\n
x = 10\nx += 5\nprint(x)\nx -= 3\nprint(x)\nx *= 2\nprint(x)\nx \/= 4\nprint(x)\n\nx = 17\nx \/\/= 5\nprint(x)\nx = 17\nx %= 5\nprint(x)\nx = 3\nx **= 4\nprint(x)<\/code><\/pre>\n
Output:<\/strong><\/p>\n
15\n12\n24\n6.0\n3\n2\n81<\/code><\/pre>\n
Notice that x \/= 4<\/code> turns x into a float (6.0<\/code>), because \/<\/code> always gives a float. Use \/\/=<\/code> if you want to stay with whole numbers.<\/p>\n
Bitwise Assignment Operators<\/h2>\n
f = 12\nf &= 10\nprint(f)\nf |= 1\nprint(f)\nf ^= 3\nprint(f)\nf <<= 2\nprint(f)\nf >>= 1\nprint(f)<\/code><\/pre>\n
Output:<\/strong><\/p>\n
8\n9\n10\n40\n20<\/code><\/pre>\n
These follow the same rules as the bitwise operators<\/a>; they just store the result back in the variable.<\/p>\n
Assigning Many Variables at Once<\/h2>\n
a, b, c = 1, 2, 3\nprint(a, b, c)\n\np = q = r = 0\nprint(p, q, r)\n\na, b = b, a        # swap without a temporary variable\nprint(a, b)\n\nfirst, *rest = [10, 20, 30, 40]\nprint(first, rest)<\/code><\/pre>\n
Output:<\/strong><\/p>\n
1 2 3\n0 0 0\n2 1\n10 [20, 30, 40]<\/code><\/pre>\n
The starred name *rest<\/code> collects all the remaining items into a list. This is called unpacking<\/em>.<\/p>\n
Assignment Operators with Strings and Lists<\/h2>\n
greeting = \"Hello\"\ngreeting += \", Riya\"\nprint(greeting)\n\nline = \"-\" * 3\nline *= 2\nprint(line)\n\nnums = [1, 2]\nnums += [3]\nprint(nums)<\/code><\/pre>\n
Output:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Hello, Riya\n------\n[1, 2, 3]<\/code><\/pre>\n
The Walrus Operator :=<\/h2>\n
Added in Python 3.8, :=<\/code> lets you assign a value inside an expression, so you don’t have to compute it twice:<\/p>\n
data = [4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42]\nif (n := len(data)) > 5:\n    print(f\"List is long: {n} items\")<\/code><\/pre>\n
Output:<\/strong><\/p>\n
List is long: 6 items<\/code><\/pre>\n
A Trap: += on Lists Changes the Shared List<\/h2>\n
For a mutable object like a list, +=<\/code> changes the list in place. If two names point to the same list, both see the change. Tuples are immutable, so +=<\/code> creates a new tuple instead:<\/p>\n
list_a = [1, 2]\nlist_b = list_a\nlist_b += [3]\nprint(list_a)\n\nt = (1, 2)\nt2 = t\nt2 += (3,)\nprint(t, t2)<\/code><\/pre>\n
Output:<\/strong><\/p>\n
[1, 2, 3]\n(1, 2) (1, 2, 3)<\/code><\/pre>\n
If you want a separate list, make a copy first: list_b = list_a.copy()<\/code>.<\/p>\n
Common Mistakes<\/h2>\n