Difference between revisions of "Increment and Decrement Operators"
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| − | {{Template:1010Topic|Chapter_TOC=[[Java Fundamentals]]|Introduction=Increment and decrement are arithmetic operators which quickly add or subtract one from a variable. These operators work on data types such as int and long | + | {{Template:1010Topic|Chapter_TOC=[[Java Fundamentals]]|Introduction=Increment and decrement are arithmetic operators which quickly add or subtract one from a variable. These operators work on basic data types such as int and long. These operators can appear on an expression by themselves or as part of a complex expression. Increment and decrement can be used to add or subtract one from a variable.|Overview=This section will teach you about the increment and decrement operators, how to use them, the distinction between pre/post-increment and pre/post-decrement, and about special cases to watch out for.}} |
== The Increment and Decrement Operators == | == The Increment and Decrement Operators == | ||
| − | The increment and decrement operators increase or decrease the value of | + | The increment and decrement operators increase or decrease the value of a variable by 1. The increment operator is <code>++</code> and decrement is <code>--</code>. One would use an increment or decrement operator to concisely add or substract 1 from a variable. These operators can be used on int, long, float and double data types. They are primarily used on integer value variables such as int and long. Increasing or decreasing the value of a variable can be done by using the increment or decrement operators. |
== Usage == | == Usage == | ||
Revision as of 15:35, 1 December 2007
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IntroductionIncrement and decrement are arithmetic operators which quickly add or subtract one from a variable. These operators work on basic data types such as int and long. These operators can appear on an expression by themselves or as part of a complex expression. Increment and decrement can be used to add or subtract one from a variable.
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The Increment and Decrement Operators
The increment and decrement operators increase or decrease the value of a variable by 1. The increment operator is ++ and decrement is --. One would use an increment or decrement operator to concisely add or substract 1 from a variable. These operators can be used on int, long, float and double data types. They are primarily used on integer value variables such as int and long. Increasing or decreasing the value of a variable can be done by using the increment or decrement operators.
Usage
There are two ways to use these operators, either on their own line along with a variable, or as part of a larger expression. Using them as part of a larger expression is more difficult because the operators may change the value before or after the expression is evaluated, depending on their placement.
Basic Usage
We can use these operators by simply placing them before or after the variable to modify. If the operator is placed before a variable, it is known as a preincrement or predecrement, and if the operator is placed after a variable, it is known as a postincrement or postdecrement.
The following code snippet demonstrates the difference between these four operators:
int number = 5; ++number; // preincrement, the variable 'number' would be 6 as a result number++; // postincrement, the variable 'number' would be 6 as a result --number; // predecrement, number = 4 number--; // postdecrement, number = 4
These increment and decrement expressions are really shorthand for:
number = number + 1; // longer way of writing number++ or ++number number = number - 1; // longer way of writing number-- or --number
Note that the regular rules for arithmetic in Java apply here, so be careful not to unintentionally increment or decrement outside the value of a variable to outside of its range.
Within an Expression
These increment and decrement operators can occur as part of a larger expression as well. One might write the operator this way for conciseness, that is, to avoid writing the increment or decrement on its own line. In this case, the meaning of the expression actually changes depending on whether the operator is placed before or after a variable name. Until you are comfortable using these operators, you should not attempt to use them as part of larger expressions.
When a preincrement is done, the variable is changed before it is used in the expression. Oppositely, when a postincrement is done the variable is changed after the expression is evaluated.
The following example illustrates the difference between pre- and post- increment.
int number = 3; int value = (++number) * 2; // value = 8, number = 4 int number = 3; int value = (number++) * 2; //value = 6, number = 4
As you can see, whether or not the modified value of number is used as part of the expression in which it occurs depends on which side of the variable the ++, and likewise --, occur.
Precautions
Note that some expressions have unclear meaning, such as number = number++ or number = ++number. Does the variable number receive its incremented value, or is number incremented after the assignment has taken place? It is best to avoid assignment to a varaible when that variable is incremented or decremented as part of the assignment's expression.
