Java Unary Arithmetic Operators

In Java, unary arithmetic operators are used to increasing or decreasing the value of an operand. Increment operator adds 1 to the value of a variable, whereas the decrement operator decreases a value.

Increment and decrement unary operator works as follows:

Syntax:

val++;
val--;

These two operators have two forms: Postfix and Prefix. Both do increment or decrement in appropriate variables. These two operators can be placed before or after of variables. When it is placed before the variable, it is called prefix. And when it is placed after, it is called postfix.

Following example table, demonstrates the work of Increment and decrement operators with postfix and prefix:

Programs to Show How Assignment Operators Works

Example:

public class unaryop {
 public static void main(String[] args) {
  int r = 6;
  System.out.println("r=: " + r++);
  System.out.println("r=: " + r);
  
  int x = 6;
  System.out.println("x=: " + x--);
  System.out.println("x=: " + x);
  
  int y = 6;
  System.out.println("y=: " + ++y);

  int p = 6;
  System.out.println("p=: " + --p);
 }
}

Output:

r=: 6
r=: 7
x=: 6
x=: 5
y=: 7
p=: 5