What type of operator is used to assign a value to a variable?

The assignment operator is used specifically for assigning a value to a variable. In programming, this operator typically takes the form of the equals sign (=). When you write x = 5, for example, the assignment operator assigns the integer value 5 to the variable x. This operation does not perform any mathematical calculations or comparisons but instead defines what value is stored in the variable for later use.

Other types of operators serve different purposes: arithmetic operators carry out mathematical calculations (such as addition and subtraction), comparison operators evaluate relationships between values (like greater than or equal to), and logical operators perform logical operations (such as AND, OR, and NOT) that deal with boolean logic. Each type of operator has its distinct role, making the assignment operator fundamental for variable initialization and manipulation in programming.