Operator may refer to:

Mathematics

* A symbol indicating a

mathematical operation In mathematics, an operation is a function from a set to itself. For example, an operation on real numbers will take in real numbers and return a real number. An operation can take zero or more input values (also called "'' operands''" or "argu ...

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

or logical connective in mathematical logic *

Operator (mathematics) In mathematics, an operator is generally a Map (mathematics), mapping or function (mathematics), function that acts on elements of a space (mathematics), space to produce elements of another space (possibly and sometimes required to be the same ...

, 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 pr ...

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 retur ...

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 invo ...

Operational calculus Operational calculus, also known as operational analysis, is a technique by which problems in Mathematical Analysis, analysis, in particular differential equations, are transformed into algebraic problems, usually the problem of solving a polynomia ...

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, an operator is a programming language construct that provides functionality that may not be possible to define as a user-defined function (i.e. sizeof in C) or has syntax different than a function (i.e. infix addit ...

, a type of computer program function * Operator (extension), an extension for the Firefox web browser, for reading microformats * Operator pattern, a provisioning automation and auto-scaling strategy for Kubernetes * Ableton Operator, 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 (genetics), promoter. The genes are transcription (biology), transcribed together into an Messenger RNA, mRNA strand and eith ...

, 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 Gover ...

, a special category including wh- interrogatives *

Operator (physics) An operator is a function over a space of physical states onto another space of 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). Because of this, they a ...

, mathematical operators in quantum physics

Music

* Operator (band), 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 was an American vocal group founded in 1969 in New York City, performing music genres like a cappella, Brazilian jazz, Swing music, swing, vocalese, rhythm and blues, Pop music, pop, and standards. They have won eleven G ...

'' * "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 appearanc ...

'' * "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 ...

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

Fiction

* ''

Operator No. 5 ''Operator #5'' was a pulp magazine published between 1934 and 1939. Publication history In 1931 Street & Smith, one of the major pulp magazine publishers, launched ''The Shadow The Shadow is a fictional character created by American m ...

'', 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 manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. The manga, first serialized between 1989 and 1991, is set in mid-21st century Japan and tel ...

'' 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'' (film), a 2000 film * The Operator ('' Marble Hornets''), 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 us ...

, 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 syste ...

, an occupation at a company offering telephone services **

Heavy equipment operator A heavy equipment operator operates heavy equipment used in engineering and construction projects. Typically only skilled workers may operate heavy equipment, and there is specialized training for learning to use heavy equipment. Operator train ...

, operates heavy equipment used in engineering and construction projects * Operator (military), 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 mobile network provider, mobile network carrier, mobile , wireless service provider, wireless carrier, wireless operator, wireless telco, or cellular company, is a telecommunications provider of se ...

, 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. Ne ...

, 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 gra ...

, a theory of human language