C++ Primer Plus

The Increment (++) and Decrement (--) Operators

C++ features several operators that are frequently used in loops; let’s take a little time to examine them now. You’ve already seen two: the increment operator (++), which inspired the name C++, and the decrement operator (--). These operators perform two exceedingly common loop operations: increasing and decreasing a loop counter by one. However, there’s more to their story than you’ve seen to this point. Each operator comes in two varieties. The prefix version comes before the operand, as in ++x. The postfix version comes after the operand, as in x++. The two versions have the same effect on the operand, but they differ in terms of when they take place. It’s like getting paid for mowing the lawn ...