what is "<<"

Hello

I was reading a program today and I saw this sign "<<" what does that mean?

Code:

---

x = number / (1 << y);

---

bitwise shift left, i.e. 1 << 3 = 00000001 << 3 = 00001000 = 8; 5 << 2 = 00000101 << 2 = 00010100 = 20.

Assuming that "number" and "x" are both integers, I would think that "x >> y" would achieve the same thing, but quicker.

--
Mats