Basics

Java Operators

Java Operators

Java operators include arithmetic and logical with precedence rules.

Introduction to Java Operators

In Java, operators are special symbols that perform operations on variables and values. Java operators can be categorized into different types, such as arithmetic, logical, comparison, and more. Understanding how these operators work is essential for writing effective Java code.

Arithmetic Operators

Arithmetic operators are used to perform basic mathematical operations. These include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and modulus. Here are the common arithmetic operators:

  • +: Addition
  • -: Subtraction
  • *: Multiplication
  • /: Division
  • %: Modulus (remainder of a division)

Logical Operators

Logical operators are used to combine multiple boolean expressions or values and return a boolean result. Common logical operators include:

  • &&: Logical AND
  • ||: Logical OR
  • !: Logical NOT

Operator Precedence

Operator precedence determines the order in which operators are evaluated in expressions. Operators with higher precedence are evaluated before operators with lower precedence. For example, multiplication and division have higher precedence than addition and subtraction.

Consider the expression 2 + 3 * 4. Due to operator precedence, the multiplication is performed first, resulting in 2 + 12, which equals 14.

Conclusion

Understanding Java operators and their precedence is crucial for writing clear and efficient code. This knowledge helps developers control the flow of their programs and perform complex calculations and logical operations with ease.