# >>(_:_:) Returns the result of shifting a value’s binary representation the specified number of digits to the right. ``` static func >> (lhs: Self, rhs: RHS) -> Self where RHS : BinaryInteger ``` ## Parameters `lhs` The value to shift. `rhs` The number of bits to shift `lhs` to the right. ## Discussion The `>>` operator performs a *smart shift*, which defines a result for a shift of any value. - Using a negative value for `rhs` performs a left shift using `abs(rhs)`. - Using a value for `rhs` that is greater than or equal to the bit width of `lhs` is an *overshift*. An overshift results in `-1` for a negative value of `lhs` or `0` for a nonnegative value. - Using any other value for `rhs` performs a right shift on `lhs` by that amount. The following example defines `x` as an instance of `UInt8`, an 8-bit, unsigned integer type. If you use `2` as the right-hand-side value in an operation on `x`, the value is shifted right by two bits. ``` let x: UInt8 = 30 // 0b00011110 let y = x >> 2 // y == 7 // 0b00000111 ``` If you use `11` as `rhs`, `x` is overshifted such that all of its bits are set to zero. ``` let z = x >> 11 // z == 0 // 0b00000000 ``` Using a negative value as `rhs` is the same as performing a left shift using `abs(rhs)`. ``` let a = x >> -3 // a == 240 // 0b11110000 let b = x << 3 // b == 240 // 0b11110000 ``` Right shift operations on negative values “fill in” the high bits with ones instead of zeros. ``` let q: Int8 = -30 // 0b11100010 let r = q >> 2 // r == -8 // 0b11111000 let s = q >> 11 // s == -1 // 0b11111111 ``` --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)