Final answer:
The operation 'i1 ^= i2;' in Computers and Technology performs a bitwise XOR between two variables, changing 'i1' to the result of this operation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The operation i1 ^= i2; is from the Computers and Technology subject area and involves a binary operation called exclusive or (XOR). This operation sets each bit in i1 to the result of the XOR operation between the corresponding bits in i1 and i2. In other words, for each bit position, if the bits are different, it sets the resultant bit to 1; if they are the same, it sets the resultant bit to 0.
This operation is often used in various programming tasks, such as cryptography, error checking, and bitwise manipulation. In essence, it's a way to toggle the bits in a variable based on the bits of another.