Is there a difference between x++ and ++x in java?

Question

Is there a difference between ++x and x++ in java?

Answer 1

In Java there is a difference between x++ and ++x

++x is a prefix form: It increments the variables expression then uses the new value in the expression.

For example if used in code:

int x = 3;

int y = ++x;
//Using ++x in the above is a two step operation.
//The first operation is to increment x, so x = 1 + 3 = 4
//The second operation is y = x so y = 4

System.out.println(y); //It will print out '4'
System.out.println(x); //It will print out '4'

x++ is a postfix form: The variables value is first used in the expression and then it is incremented after the operation.

For example if used in code:

int x = 3;

int y = x++;
//Using x++ in the above is a two step operation.
//The first operation is y = x so y = 3
//The second operation is to increment x, so x = 1 + 3 = 4

System.out.println(y); //It will print out '3'
System.out.println(x); //It will print out '4' 

Hope this is clear. Running and playing with the above code should help your understanding.