Basic Operators in Java

By the definition provided by Oracle –

"Operators are special symbols that perform specific operations on one, two, or three operands, and then return a result"

In other words, the operations you do with the variables in your Java Program are represented by some signs. They are called Operators.
For example, Assignment Operator (=). We use it for assigning some value in a variable.

Java provides many other operators. We can divide them according to their categories.

We will discuss about all these operators one by one.

Arithmetic Operators

Simple Arithmetic Operators 

Operator

Result

Example

Meaning

+

Addition

int a = 1+1;

int a = 1+1;

-

Subtraction

int b = a-1;

int b = a-1;

*

Multiplication

int c = b*2;

int c = b*2;

/

Division

int d = c/2;

int d = c/2;

%

Modulus

int e = 10%2;

int e = 10%2;

++

Increment

a++; or ++a;

a = a+1;

--

Decrement

a--; Or --a;

a = a-1;

Though most of the operators are common in Arithmetic, Increment and Decrement operators are not.

Increment or decrement operators are used mainly in 2 ways. Either we can use it before the variable (++a) or after the variable (a++).

int f = (++a)+1;

This statement means, first increment the variable by 1(i.e. a=a+1).

Then execute the next statement,

i.e. int f = a+1;

int g = (a++)+1;

This statement means, first int g = a+1; 

Then execute the next statement,

i.e.  Make an increment of the variable by 1(i.e. a=a+1).

Similar applies for decrement operator.

--a or a—means, a=a-1;

Sample Program for Simple Arithmetic Expressions

Try It
public class SimpleArithmeticOperators 
{

	public static void main(String[] args) {
		
		/**Simple Arithmetic Operators**/
		
		//Addition
		int a = 1+1;
		System.out.println("Value of a is : "+ a);
		
		//Subtraction
		int b = a-1;
		System.out.println("Value of b is : "+ b);
		
		//Multiplication
		int c = b*2;
		System.out.println("Value of c is : "+ c);
		
		//Division
		int d = c/2;;
		System.out.println("Value of d is : "+ d);
		
		//Modulus
		int e = 10%2;
		System.out.println("Value of e is : "+ e);
		
		//Increment Operator
		a = 0;
		int f = ++a;
		System.out.println("Value of f is : "+ f);
		
		a = 0;
		System.out.println("Value of a before increment is : "+ a);
		int g = a++;
		System.out.println("Value of g is : "+ g);
		System.out.println("Value of a after increment is : "+ a);
		
		//Decrement Operator
		a = 0;
		int h = --a;
		System.out.println("Value of h is : "+ h);
		
		a = 0;
		System.out.println("Value of a before decrement is : "+ a);
		int i = a--;
		System.out.println("Value of i is : "+ i);
		System.out.println("Value of a after decrement is : "+ a);
		
	}

}

The output will be - Click "Try It" button above

Arithmetic Assignment Operators

 

Operator

Result

Example

Meaning

+=

Addition Assignment

a+=2;

a = a+2;

-=

Subtraction Assignment

a-=3;

a = a-3;

*=

Multiplication Assignment

a*=4;

a = a*4;

/=

Division Assignment

a/=5;

a = a/5;

%=

Modulus Assignment

a%=6

a = a%6;

 

Arithmetic Assignment Operators are quite straight forward and self-explanatory too!

Sample Program for Arithmetic Assignments - Click Try It to compile the below code

Try It
public class ArithmeticAssignment {

	public static void main(String[] args) {
		int a = 10;
		System.out.println("value of variable before assignment: "+ a);
		
		a+= 2;
		System.out.println("value of variable after first assignment: "+ a);
		
		a-=3;
		System.out.println("value of variable after second assignment: "+ a);
		
		a*=4;
		System.out.println("value of variable after third assignment: "+ a);
	
		a/=5;
		System.out.println("value of variable after fourth assignment: "+ a);
		
		a%=6;
		System.out.println("value of variable after fifth assignment: "+ a);
	}

}

The output of this program is – Cick Try It Button above to Compile


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