Java For Dummies Quick Reference

Increment and Decrement Operators

Increment (++) and decrement (--) operators let you easily add 1 to, or subtract 1 from, a variable. For example, you can add 1 to a variable named a like this:

a++;

An expression that uses an increment or decrement operator is a statement itself. That’s because the increment or decrement operator is also a type of assignment operator because it changes the value of the variable it applies to.

You can also use an increment or decrement operator in an assignment statement:

int a = 5;

int b = a--; // both a and b are set to 4

Increment and decrement operators can be placed before (prefix) or after (postfix) the variable they apply to. If you place an increment or decrement operator before its variable, the operator is applied before the rest of the expression is evaluated. If you place the operator after the variable, the operator is applied after the expression is evaluated.

For example:

int a = 5;

int b = 3;

int c = a * b++; // c is set to 15

int d = a * ++b; // d is set to 20