Operator vs. Operation — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 24, 2024
Operator refers to a person or entity performing or controlling a process, while an operation is the process or activity being conducted.
Difference Between Operator and Operation
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An operator is often used in contexts like machinery or computer systems to denote the individual or function controlling the system, while an operation refers to the actual process or series of actions that are being executed within the system. For instance, in computing, an operator might manage software execution, whereas the operation is the execution itself.
In mathematics and computer programming, an operator is a symbol or function that signifies a mathematical operation or computational function, whereas an operation is the act performed by this operator. For example, '+' is an arithmetic operator, while the addition it performs is the operation.
In business or medical contexts, an operator could be the person or organization running a facility, like a hospital or factory, while an operation could refer to a specific procedure or the overall functioning of the facility. For example, a surgical operator performs operations.
In telecommunications, an operator might be a company that provides communication services, whereas an operation could involve the specific technical processes they manage, such as signal transmission and reception.
The term "operator" can also refer to specific roles in various industries, like a crane operator in construction, who manages the machinery to perform operations like lifting heavy loads.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A person or entity that operates equipment or system
A sequence of actions to achieve a result
Contexts
Business, computing, machinery
Medical, military, computing
Role
Control, management
Execution, process
Examples in Computing
Database operator, system operator
Data processing, system maintenance
Examples in Business
Call center operator, machine operator
Business procedures, factory operations
Compare with Definitions
Operator
A function or symbol executing a specific process in programming.
In Python, the '+' operator adds two numbers.
Operation
A planned activity involving many parts.
The military operation was carefully coordinated.
Operator
A skilled manipulator of situations.
He's a smooth operator when it comes to negotiations.
Operation
A mathematical or computational procedure.
Basic operations include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Operator
A person who operates equipment or machinery.
The crane operator was responsible for lifting heavy loads.
Operation
The state of being active or functioning.
The factory has been in operation since the 1980s.
Operator
A company that manages a particular service.
The mobile network operator announced new data plans.
Operation
A business or surgical procedure.
The hospital scheduled the operation for early morning.
Operator
Someone who helps connect phone calls.
The telephone operator connected the international call.
Operation
An undercover or secretive mission.
The agents were involved in a covert operation.
Operator
A person who operates equipment or a machine
A radio operator
Operation
The act or process of operating or functioning.
Operator
A person or company that runs a business
A tour operator
Operation
The state of being operative or functional
A factory in operation.
Operator
A person who acts in a shrewd or manipulative way
Her reputation as a cool, clever operator
Operation
A process or series of acts involved in a particular form of work
The operation of building a house.
Operator
A symbol or function denoting an operation (e.g. ×, +).
Operation
An instance or method of efficient, productive activity
That restaurant is quite an operation.
Operator
One who operates a machine or device
The operator of a forklift.
Operation
An unethical or illegal business
A fencing operation for stolen goods.
Operator
The owner or manager of a business.
Operation
(Medicine) A surgical procedure for remedying an injury, ailment, defect, or dysfunction.
Operator
A military person who executes a special operation.
Operation
(Mathematics) A process or action, such as addition, substitution, transposition, or differentiation, performed in a specified sequence and in accordance with specific rules.
Operator
(Informal) A person who is adept at accomplishing goals through shrewd or unscrupulous maneuvers.
Operation
A logical operation.
Operator
(Mathematics) A function, especially one from a set to itself, such as differentiation of a differentiable function or rotation of a vector.
Operation
(Computers) An action resulting from a single instruction.
Operator
A logical operator.
Operation
A military or naval action, campaign, or mission.
Operator
(Genetics) A chromosomal segment of DNA that regulates the activity of the structural genes of an operon by interacting with a specific repressor.
Operation
Operations The headquarters or center from which a military action, flights into and out of an airfield, or other activities are controlled.
Operator
One who operates.
Operation
Operations The division of an organization that carries out the major planning and operating functions.
Operator
A telecommunications facilitator whose job is to establish temporary network connections.
Operation
The method by which a device performs its function.
It is dangerous to look at the beam of a laser while it is in operation.
Operator
(mathematics) A function or other mapping that carries variables defined on a domain into another variable or set of variables in a defined range. Category:en:Functions
Operation
The method or practice by which actions are done.
Operator
(uncountable) The game of Chinese whispers.
Operation
The act or process of operating; agency; the exertion of power, physical, mechanical, or moral.
Operator
(informal) A person who is adept at making deals or getting results, especially one who uses questionable methods.
Operation
A planned undertaking.
The police ran an operation to get vagrants off the streets.
The Katrina relief operation was considered botched.
Operator
A member of a military special operations unit.
Operation
A business or organization.
We run our operation from a storefront.
They run a multinational produce-supply operation.
Operator
(computing) The administrator of a channel or network on IRC.
Operation
(medicine) A surgical procedure.
She had an operation to remove her appendix.
Operator
(computing) A symbol that represents a construct in a programming language and differs from a normal function in its syntax.
Operation
A procedure for generating a value from one or more other values (the operands);
a function which maps zero or more (but typically two) operands to a single output value.
a function which maps zero or more (but typically two) operands to a single output value.
The number of operands associated with an operation is called its arity; an operation of arity 2 is called a binary operation.
Operator
(linguistics) A kind of expression that enters into an a-bar movement dependency and is said to bind a variable.
In the sentence "What did Bill say he wants to buy?", "what" is an operator, binding a phonetically empty variable.
Operation
(military) A military campaign (e.g. Operation Desert Storm)
Operator
One who, or that which, operates or produces an effect.
Operation
(obsolete) Effect produced; influence.
Operator
One who performs some act upon the human body by means of the hand, or with instruments.
Operation
The act or process of operating; agency; the exertion of power, physical, mechanical, or moral.
The pain and sickness caused by manna are the effects of its operation on the stomach.
Speculative painting, without the assistance of manual operation, can never attain to perfection.
Operator
A dealer in stocks or any commodity for speculative purposes; a speculator.
Operation
The method of working; mode of action.
Operator
The symbol that expresses the operation to be performed; - called also facient.
Operation
That which is operated or accomplished; an effect brought about in accordance with a definite plan; as, military or naval operations.
Operator
A person who operates a telephone switchboard.
Operation
Effect produced; influence.
The bards . . . had great operation on the vulgar.
Operator
A person who schemes and maneuvers adroitly or deviously to achieve his/her purposes.
Operation
Something to be done; some transformation to be made upon quantities or mathematical objects, the transformation being indicated either by rules or symbols.
Operator
(mathematics) a symbol that represents a function from functions to functions;
The integral operator
Operation
Any methodical action of the hand, or of the hand with instruments, on the human body, to produce a curative or remedial effect, as in amputation, etc.
Operator
An agent that operates some apparatus or machine;
The operator of the switchboard
Operation
A business especially one run on a large scale;
A large-scale farming operation
A multinational operation
They paid taxes on every stage of the operation
They had to consolidate their operations
Operator
Someone who owns or operates a business;
Who is the operator of this franchise?
Operation
A planned activity involving many people performing various actions;
They organized a rescue operation
The biggest police operation in French history
Running a restaurant is quite an operation
Consolidate the companies various operations
Operator
A shrewd or unscrupulous person who knows how to circumvent difficulties
Operation
A process or series of acts especially of a practical or mechanical nature involved in a particular form of work;
The operations in building a house
Certain machine tool operations
Operator
A speculator who trades aggressively on stock or commodity markets
Operation
The state of being in effect or being operative;
That rule is no longer in operation
Operation
A medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body;
They will schedule the operation as soon as an operating room is available
He died while undergoing surgery
Operation
Activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign);
It was a joint operation of the navy and air force
Operation
(computer science) data processing in which the result is completely specified by a rule (especially the processing that results from a single instruction);
It can perform millions of operations per second
Operation
Process or manner of functioning or operating;
The power of its engine determine its operation
The plane's operation in high winds
They compared the cooking performance of each oven
The jet's performance conformed to high standards
Operation
(mathematics) calculation by mathematical methods;
The problems at the end of the chapter demonstrated the mathematical processes involved in the derivation
They were learning the basic operations of arithmetic
Operation
(psychology) the performance of some composite cognitive activity; an operation that affects mental contents;
The process of thinking
The cognitive operation of remembering
Operation
The activity of operating something (a machine or business etc.);
Her smooth operation of the vehicle gave us a surprisingly comfortable ride
Common Curiosities
How does an operation differ in business and medicine?
In business, an operation often refers to ongoing activities of a company, while in medicine, it specifically means a surgical procedure.
Can the term "operator" refer to a company?
Yes, especially in contexts like telecommunications, where an operator is a company providing communication services.
Can an operation be a single action?
Typically, an operation consists of a series of actions, but it can refer to a single critical action in specific contexts like surgery.
What is an example of an operation in computing?
An example would be the processing of data or maintenance of system functionalities.
What is the role of an operator in computing?
In computing, an operator is a symbol or function that performs a specific operation, such as arithmetic or logical computation.
What types of operations are there in mathematics?
Operations in mathematics include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, among others.
Is an operator always a person?
Not always; in programming and mathematics, it can also refer to a function or symbol that performs operations.
What skills are important for an operator?
Key skills include attention to detail, problem-solving, and in some cases, technical proficiency.
How is an operator different from a technician?
An operator controls or manages operations, whereas a technician often deals more with maintenance and repairs.
How critical is an operator in an industrial setting?
Very critical, as they ensure that machinery and processes are run efficiently and safely.
What is the main difference between an operator and a manager?
An operator directly controls specific processes or machinery, while a manager oversees broader operational aspects and personnel.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
