How does the assignment operator (=) differ from the equal operator (==)?

The assignment operator, represented by the single equal sign (=), is used in Python to assign a value to a variable. For instance, when you write x = 5, you are taking the value of 5 and storing it in the variable x. This action does not evaluate whether two values are equivalent; rather, it establishes a binding between the name x and the value 5 in memory.

On the other hand, the equal operator, represented by the double equal sign (==), is used to compare two values to check if they are equal. When you write x == 5, the result is a boolean value (True or False) that indicates whether the value stored in x is indeed the same as 5.

The distinction between these two operators is fundamental in programming. The assignment operator is for creating and updating variables, while the equal operator is for condition checking within control statements, like if conditions or while loops.

The other options do not accurately capture the key difference between the two operators. The equal operator does not always return a boolean value; it returns True or False only when comparing values. While both operators can evaluate expressions, their purposes are distinct: one assigns and the other compares. Additionally, neither operator is involved in