Difference between Increment and Decrement Operators
Programming languages like C/C++/Java have increment and decrement operators. These are very useful and common operators.
- Increment Operators: The increment operator is used to increment the value of a variable in an expression. In the Pre-Increment, value is first incremented and then used inside the expression. Whereas in the Post-Increment, value is first used inside the expression and then incremented.
Syntax:
// PREFIX ++m // POSTFIX m++ where m is a variable
Example:
#include <stdio.h>
int
increment(
int
a,
int
b)
{
a = 5;
// POSTFIX
b = a++;
printf
(
"%d"
, b);
// PREFIX
int
c = ++b;
printf
(
"\n%d"
, c);
}
// Driver code
int
main()
{
int
x, y;
increment(x, y);
return
0;
}
- Decrement Operators: The decrement operator is used to decrement the value of a variable in an expression. In the Pre-Decrement, value is first decremented and then used inside the expression. Whereas in the Post-Decrement, value is first used inside the expression and then decremented.
Syntax:
// PREFIX --m // POSTFIX m-- where m is a variable
Example:
#include <stdio.h>
int
decrement(
int
a,
int
b)
{
a = 5;
// POSTFIX
b = a--;
printf
(
"%d"
, b);
// PREFIX
int
c = --b;
printf
(
"\n%d"
, c);
}
// Driver code
int
main()
{
int
x, y;
decrement(x, y);
return
0;
}
Differences between Increment And Decrement Operators:
Increment Operators Decrement Operators Increment Operator adds 1 to the operand. Decrement Operator subtracts 1 from the operand. Postfix increment operator means the expression is evaluated first using the original value of the variable and then the variable is incremented(increased). Postfix decrement operator means the expression is evaluated first using the original value of the variable and then the variable is decremented(decreased). Prefix increment operator means the variable is incremented first and then the expression is evaluated using the new value of the variable. Prefix decrement operator means the variable is decremented first and then the expression is evaluated using the new value of the variable. Generally, we use this in decision making and looping. This is also used in decision making and looping. Want to learn from the best curated videos and practice problems, check out the C++ Foundation Course for Basic to Advanced C++ and C++ STL Course for foundation plus STL. To complete your preparation from learning a language to DS Algo and many more, please refer Complete Interview Preparation Course.