Why is x == (x = y) not the same as (x = y) == x?

Question

Consider the following example:

class Quirky {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int x = 1;
        int y = 3;

        System.out.println(x =         


        

Answer 1

It is not the same. The left hand side will always be evaluated before the right hand side, and the brackets don't specify an order of execution, but a grouping of commands.

With:

      x == (x = y)

You are basically doing the same as:

      x == y

And x will have the value of y after the comparison.

While with:

      (x = y) == x

You are basically doing the same as:

      x == x

After x took y's value. And it will always return true.