Increment & Decrement Operators

• Increment (++) operator is used to increase the value of a variable by 1.
  
  
• Decrement (--) operator is used to decrease the value of a variable by 1.
  
  
• Both the operators are unary i.e. they only require one operand.
  
  
• There are two forms in which ++ and - can be used:

1.  Prefix
2. Postfix
   
   

• Prefix: In this form operator is written before the operand: ++a, --b.
• Postfix: In this form operator is written after the operand: at+, b-.
• If there is no assignment then prefix and postfix will give same result.
  Eg:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

In both cases a = 11 and b = 19

• 
  
• If there is assignment then prefix and postfix may give different result.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  x = 11 a = 11
  y = 21 b = 21
  
  
  
  x = 10 a = 11
  y = 20 b = 21
  
  

  
  

  Prefix

  
  int a =10, x;

  
  x=++a;

  
  It is calculated as a two step process:

  
  Step 1:a=a+1:// a will become 11

  
  Step 2:x=a;// x will become 11

  
  In case of prefix rule is:

  
  First increment/decrement is performed then assignment is performed.

  
  
  

  Postfix
  
  

  int a=10, x;

  
  x=a++;

  
  

  It is calculated as a two step process:

  
  
  Step 1:x=a;// x will become 10

  
  Step 2:a=a+1;// a will become 11

  
  In case of postfix rule is:

  
  First assignment is performed then increment/decrement is performed.
  
  In case of following for loops both postfix & prefix will give same result:
  
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
   
  Both loops will print 1 to 5
  
  
  In case of printf functions result may vary:
  
  
  It will print a = 11
  

  

  It will print a = 10
  

  

  Finally a will be 11
  in both case.
  
  
  
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