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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