The shifts described above are called logical shifts and can be 1, 2 or more bits, although it is uncommon to see a shifter than can shift more than 4 bits at a time. Most computers make do with 1-bit shifters and do several shift instructions in a row in order to accomplish a multi-bit shift.

There are two other shifting types besides logical shifts. Here is a complete list. All of these can be 1, 2, or more bit shifts and can be left or right.