I didn't know what it is. Just learnt it. It shifts the bits. For example (in python shell): 3 >> 1 # 00 00 00 11 moves 1 bit right 00 00 00 00 01 #Output: 1 3 << 1 # 00 00 00 11 moves 1 bit left 00 00 00 01 10 #Output: 6 # you can experiment with numbers: 1 << 1 #Output: 2 1 << 2 #Output: 4 1 << 3 #Output: 8 1 << 4 #Output: 16 512 >> 8 #Output: 2