Bitwise Operations in Java

http://www.fredosaurus.com/notes-java/data/expressions/bitops.html
Examples -> http://www.erpgreat.com/java/java-bitwise-shift-operators.htm
-> http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16763917/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-unsigned-right-shift-operator-in-java
NOTE: Specifically look for use of >>> bitwise operator in the above example


UNSIGNED RIGHT SHIFT OPERATOR (>>>):
A normal right shift >> of a negative number will keep it negative. I.e. the sign bit will be retained.

An unsigned right shift >>> will shift the sign bit too, replacing it with a zero bit.

There is no need to have the equivalent left shift because there is only one sign bit and it is the leftmost bit so it only interferes when shifting right.

Essentially, the difference is that one preserves the sign bit, the other shifts in zeros to replace the sign bit.

For positive numbers they act identically.

For an example of using both >> and >>> see BigInteger shiftRight.