Question

Please explain to me in detail the difference between << and <<= and as well as >> and >>=.
I know how shift operators work, but I am not so sure about them when it comes to >>= or <<=.

Answer 1

Well << only shifts left. <<= shifts left and assigns.

<<= is to << what += is to +.

EDIT

As suggested by MByD, here is an example

int x = 1;

/* Print 32. */
printf("%d\n", x << 5);

/* x stays the same. */
printf("%d\n", x);

x <<= 5;

/* x has become 32. */
printf("%d\n", x);