In this article, you will learn about the increment operator ++ and the decrement operator -- .
In programming (Java, C, C++, JavaScript etc.), the increment operator ++ decrement operator -- are used.
Increment operator (++) or Decrement operator (--) --> This operators increase the value of variable by 1 or decrease the variable by 1.
For eg
int a = 5;
a++; //output will be 6
int b = 5;
a--; //output will be 4
These operators are further divided into
1) Prefix increment/decrement (++a/--a)
2) Postfix increment/decrement (a++/a--)
1) Prefix increment/decrement operator --> The ++ and -- are placed before number, first evaluate the value and then performs the work.
For eg
int a = 5;
System.out.println(++a); // here the new value is evaluated that is + so value will be 6 and output will be 6
System.out.println(a); // output will be 6 because there is no further work to perform.
2) Postfix increment/decrement (a++/a--) --> In this work is perform first, and then evaluate the value.
for eg
int a = 5;
System.out.println(a++); // Here work is perform what work?
the work is to print the value of a that is 5, after that the value will be evaluated to 6
i.e is a + 1 = 6; 5 + 1 = 6;
When you print value of a
for second time then output will show 6;
int a = 5;
System.out.println(a++); //output will be 5
System.out.println(a); // after incrementation of a the value will be 6 and it will printed as a output.
Let's take another example to understand in java programming language
class Operator {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int a = 5,
System.out.println(a++); // 5 will be output
System.out.println(++a); // 7 will be output
System.out.println(a); // 7 as it is
System.out.println(--a); // 6 because of subtraction
System.out.println(a--); // 6 will be output
System.out.println(++a); // 6 will be output
}
}
1 In System.out.println(a++); // 5 will be output
here first 5 will be printed and then ++ of 5 will happen so now new value of a
will be 6.
2 In System.out.println(++a);
the value of a
will be 7 because of addition ++a it is because addition is performed, after that 7 will be output.
3 In System.out.println(a);
// 7 as it is value from previous.
4 In System.out.println(--a);
the value will be 6 because -- of 7-1=6 i.e. value is 6
5 In System.out.println(a--); // 6 will be output
because first print value of a
and then do subtraction i.e. 6-1=5. When new print command for value a
will be printed then 5 will be displayed.
6 In System.out.println(++a); // 6 will be output
because ++a i.e. first do addition of _5+1=6 _and print value of a which is 6.
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