Arithmetic operators are symbols used in mathematics and programming to perform basic calculations. The most common arithmetic operators include addition (+), subtraction (−), multiplication (×), and division (÷). These operators allow users to manipulate numbers and solve mathematical problems efficiently. In programming, arithmetic operators function similarly but are often represented by different symbols. For example, addition is still represented by (+), while division may use (/) instead of (÷). Understanding these operators is essential for tasks ranging from simple calculations to complex algorithms in various programming languages like Python and Java.