Meaning of *= in Java

Question

I see an unfamiliar notation in the Android source code: *=

For example: density *= invertedRatio;

I am not familiar with the star-

Answer 1

Just like Da said, it's short for density = density * invertedRatio; - it's nothing Android specific, it's standard Java. You will find this (and similar operators) in many languages with a C-like syntax.

Answer 2

It is a shorthand assignment operator. It takes the following form:

variable op= expression;

is short form of

variable = variable op expression;

So,

density *= invertedRatio;

is equivalent to

density = density * invertedRatio;

See the following link for more info:

How to Use Assignment Operators in Java

Answer 3

density *= invertedRatio; is a shortened version of density = density * invertedRatio;

This notation comes from C.

Answer 4

In Java, the *= is called a multiplication compound assignment operator.

It's a shortcut for

density = density * invertedRatio;

Same abbreviations are possible e.g. for:

String x = "hello "; x += "world" // results in "hello world"
int y = 100; y -= 42; // results in y == 58

and so on.