How To Mask Out Lower 'x' Bits of Python Integer Of Unknown Size -

How To Mask Out Lower 'x' Bits of Python Integer Of Unknown Size -

i looking way mask out (set ‘0’) lowest 4 bits of integer in python when don’t know total length of number. if knew length of integer beforehand set rest of mask 0xff, instance if integer 32 bits long use:

number &= 0xfffffff0

but if tried utilize 64-bit number there mask out bits 32-63. 2 things thought of create mask long (e.g. 0xffffffffffffffffff0) or take number of bits parameter function. both work plenty seem kludgy. there better/more pythonic way this?

number &= ~0xf

~ gives binary inversion of operand, ~0xf equivalent 0x...fff0 integer size.

python python-2.7 bit-manipulation bitmask