What is a unary operator?

A unary operator is defined as an operator that operates on only one operand. This means it requires only a single value to perform its operation. Common examples of unary operators in Python include the negation operator (-) which negates the value of a number, and the logical NOT operator (not) which inverses the boolean value of a statement.

In the context of the available options, the definition clearly aligns with the notion that a unary operator is specifically designed to work with one operand. For instance, if you take a number and apply the negation operator (-5), it transforms the single operand from 5 to -5.

Understanding unary operators is essential as they are fundamental in expressions where you want to manipulate or evaluate a single variable or value without the need for additional operands. This distinguishes them from binary operators, which require two operands to function, and other operators that involve more. Thus, recognizing the characteristics of unary operators enhances your overall grasp of operators in programming.