opérandes

An operand is a fundamental concept in computing and mathematics, representing the data or value upon which an operation is performed. In essence, operands are the subjects of an operation, while the operation itself is the action taken. For example, in the mathematical expression 2 + 3, both 2 and 3 are operands, and the plus sign (+) signifies the addition operation. The result of this operation is 5.

Operands can take various forms. They can be literal values, such as numbers (integers or floating-point) or characters. They can also be variables, which are symbolic names that refer to a value stored in memory. In programming languages, constants, which are fixed values, also serve as operands. The type of operand is crucial as it determines how the operation will be executed and what kind of result can be expected.

Operations, often represented by operators, act upon these operands. Common operators include arithmetic operators (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), logical operators (AND, OR, NOT), and comparison operators (greater than, less than, equal to). The number of operands an operator requires is known as its arity. Unary operators act on a single operand (e.g., negation), binary operators act on two operands (e.g., addition), and ternary operators act on three operands (a less common construct). Understanding operands is essential for comprehending how instructions are processed by computers and how calculations are performed.