Operator may refer to:

Mathematics

* A symbol indicating a

mathematical operation In mathematics, an operation is a Function (mathematics), function which takes zero or more input values (also called "''operands''" or "arguments") to a well-defined output value. The number of operands is the arity of the operation. The most c ...

Logical operator In logic, a logical connective (also called a logical operator, sentential connective, or sentential operator) is a logical constant. They can be used to connect logical formulas. For instance in the syntax of propositional logic, the binary co ...

or logical connective in mathematical logic *

Operator (mathematics) In mathematics, an operator is generally a mapping or function that acts on elements of a space to produce elements of another space (possibly and sometimes required to be the same space). There is no general definition of an ''operator'', but ...

, mapping that acts on elements of a space to produce elements of another space, e.g.: **

Linear operator In mathematics, and more specifically in linear algebra, a linear map (also called a linear mapping, linear transformation, vector space homomorphism, or in some contexts linear function) is a mapping V \to W between two vector spaces that pre ...

Differential operator In mathematics, a differential operator is an operator defined as a function of the differentiation operator. It is helpful, as a matter of notation first, to consider differentiation as an abstract operation that accepts a function and return ...

Integral operator (disambiguation) An integral operator is an operator that involves integration. Special instances are: * The operator of integration itself, denoted by the integral symbol * Integral linear operators, which are linear operators induced by bilinear forms involvin ...

Computers

Computer operator A computer operator is a role in IT which oversees the running of computer systems, ensuring that the machines, and computers are running properly. The job of a computer operator as defined by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics is to ...

, an occupation *

Operator (computer programming) In computer programming, operators are constructs defined within programming languages which behave generally like functions, but which differ syntactically or semantically. Common simple examples include arithmetic (e.g. addition with ), c ...

, a type of computer program function *

Operator (extension) Operator was an extension for the Mozilla Firefox web browser. It parses and acts upon a number of microformats, as well as validating them. Operator lets the user access microformats through a number of methods, all of which are optional: a tool ...

, an extension for the Firefox web browser, for reading microformats *

Ableton Operator Ableton AG is a German music software company that produces and distributes the production and performance program Ableton Live and a collection of related instruments and sample libraries, as well as their own hardware controller Ableton Push. ...

, a software synthesizer developed by Ableton

Science

Operator (biology) In genetics, an operon is a functioning unit of DNA containing a cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter. The genes are transcribed together into an mRNA strand and either translated together in the cytoplasm, or undergo splic ...

, a segment of DNA regulating the activity of genes *

Operator (linguistics) In generative grammar, the technical term operator denotes a type of expression that enters into an a-bar movement dependency.Chomsky, Noam. (1981) Lectures on Government and Binding, Foris, Dordrecht.Haegeman, Liliane (1994) Introduction to Govern ...

, a special category including wh- interrogatives *

Operator (physics) In physics, an operator is a function over a space of physical states onto another space of physical states. The simplest example of the utility of operators is the study of symmetry (which makes the concept of a group useful in this context). Bec ...

, mathematical operators in quantum physics

Music

Operator (band) Operator is an American post-grunge band from Los Angeles, California, United States. The name Operator was used for a solo project created by Johnny Strong, an actor and musician, who has appeared in movies such as '' Black Hawk Down'' (2001), ...

, an American hard rock band * Operators, a synth pop band led by

Dan Boeckner Dan Boeckner (; born 5 February 1978) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist and podcaster. He is best known as one of the frontmen of Wolf Parade, which he helped found in 2003. Since 2013, he has also been a member of the Montreal-based ba ...

* ''Operator'' (album), a 2016 album by Mstrkrft * "Operator" (Motown song), a 1965 song recorded by Mary Wells and Brenda Holloway * "Operator" (That's Not the Way It Feels), a 1972 song by Jim Croce from ''You Don't Mess Around with Jim'' * "Operator" (Midnight Star song) (1984), a 1984 #1 R&B/electronic dance single * "Operator" (A Girl Like Me), a 2008 song by Shiloh * "Operator", a 1970 song by the Grateful Dead from '' American Beauty'' * "Operator", a 1975 song by the Manhattan Transfer from ''

The Manhattan Transfer The Manhattan Transfer is a Grammy award–winning vocal group founded in 1969 that has explored a cappella, vocalese, swing, standards, Brazilian jazz, rhythm and blues, and pop music. There have been two editions of the Manhattan Transfer, ...

'' * "Operator", a 1986 song by Little Richard from ''

Lifetime Friend ''Lifetime Friend'' is an album by Little Richard, released in 1986 and his first since the release of ''God's Beautiful City'' in 1979. Following that album's release and some 1981 recordings, backing tracks of which were used for TV appearances ...

'' * "Operator", a 1993 song by Blue System from '' Backstreet Dreams'' * "Operator", a 1995 song by Real McCoy from '' Another Night'' * "Operator", a 1998 song by

Miss Papaya Miss (pronounced ) is an English language honorific typically used for a girl, for an unmarried woman (when not using another title such as "Doctor" or "Dame"), or for a married woman retaining her maiden name. Originating in the 17th century, it ...

from Pink * "Operator" (Floy Joy song), a song by British group Floy Joy

Fiction

* ''

Operator No. 5 ''Operator #5'' was a pulp hero that appeared in his own ten cent pulp magazine. It was soon renamed ''Secret Service Operator #5'' and was published by Popular Publications between 1934 and 1939. Characters Within the world of the series, A ...

'', a pulp fiction hero from the 1930s * Operator, a fictional group in the ''

Ghost in the Shell ''Ghost in the Shell'' is a Japanese cyberpunk media franchise based on the seinen manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. The manga, first serialized in 1989 under the subtitle of ''The Ghost in the Shell'' ...

'' series * ''Operator'' (2015 film), a 2015 American action thriller drama film starring Luke Goss * ''Operator'' (2016 film), a 2016 American comedy-drama film starring Martin Starr and Mae Whitman * ''

The Operator ''The Operator'' is a 2000 American film, starring Michael Laurence, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brion James, Brad Leland and Jacqueline Kim. It was written and directed by Jon Dichter. Plot A telephone operator resolves to takes revenge on a rude and ...

'' (film), a 2000 film *

(''

Marble Hornets ''Marble Hornets'' (abbreviated ''MH'') is an alternate reality game YouTube web series inspired by the Slender Man online mythos. The first video was posted on YouTube on June 20, 2009, following a post that its creator, Troy Wagner, created on ...

''), an entity that stalks the main characters in ''Marble Hornets''. It is also known as the Slender Man. * ''Operator'' (play), a 2005 play by David Williamson

Duties

Operator (profession) An operator is a professional designation used in various industries, including broadcasting (in television and radio), computing, power generation and transmission, customer service, physics, and construction. Operators are day-to-day end u ...

, a professional designation used in various industries, e.g.: **

Switchboard operator In the early days of telephony, companies used manual telephone switchboards, and switchboard operators connected calls by inserting a pair of phone plugs into the appropriate jacks. They were gradually phased out and replaced by automated system ...

, a occupation at a company offering telephone services **

Heavy equipment operator A heavy equipment operator operates heavy equipment used in engineering and construction projects.{{cite book, title=Construction Safety Handbook , author= V. J. Davies, Ken Tomasin, year=1996, publisher=Thomas Telford, url=https://books.google.c ...

, operates heavy equipment used in engineering and construction projects *

Operator (military) The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (1st SFOD-D), referred to variously as Delta Force, Combat Applications Group (CAG), Army Compartmented Elements (ACE), "The Unit", or within Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Task Fo ...

, a soldier in a special operations force * Operator (law enforcement), a law enforcement officer who has been trained and certified as an operator to serve on a SWAT team

Other uses

* ''Operator'' (sternwheeler), a 1909 ship on the Skeena River *

Network operator A mobile network operator (MNO), also known as a wireless service provider, wireless carrier, cellular company, or mobile network carrier, is a provider of wireless communications services that owns or controls all the elements necessary to sell ...

, a phone carrier *

System operator A sysop (; an abbreviation of system operator) is an administrator of a multi-user computer system, such as a bulletin board system (BBS) or an online service virtual community.Jansen, E. & James,V. (2002). NetLingo: the Internet dictionary. Netl ...

, commonly abbreviated as ''sysop'' *

Operator grammar Operator grammar is a mathematical theory of human language that explains how language carries information. This theory is the culmination of the life work of Zellig Harris, with major publications toward the end of the last century. Operator gram ...

, a theory of human language