Java Operators
Java Operators
Values and variables can be operated on using operators.
The following example shows how to add two values together using the + operator:
Example
int x = 100 + 50;
The + operator can be used to add together a variable and a value, or a variable and another variable, even though it is commonly used to add together two values, as in the example above:
Example
int sum1 = 100 + 50; // 150 (100 + 50)
int sum2 = sum1 + 250; // 400 (150 + 250)
int sum3 = sum2 + sum2; // 800 (400 + 400)
The operators in Java are categorized into the following groups:
- Arithmetic operators
- Assignment operators
- Comparison operators
- Logical operators
- Bitwise operators
Arithmetic Operators
Common mathematical operations are carried out using arithmetic operators.
| Operator | Name | Description | Example | Try it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| + | Addition | Adds together two values | x + y | Try it » |
| - | Subtraction | Subtracts one value from another | x - y | Try it » |
| * | Multiplication | Multiplies two values | x * y | Try it » |
| / | Division | Divides one value by another | x / y | Try it » |
| % | Modulus | Returns the division remainder | x % y | Try it » |
| ++ | Increment | Increases the value of a variable by 1 | ++x | Try it » |
| -- | Decrement | Decreases the value of a variable by 1 | --x | Try it » |
Java Assignment Operators
Variable values are assigned using assignment operators.
In the example below, we assign the value 10 to a variable called x using the assignment operator (=):
Example
int x = 10;
An addition is made to a variable using the addition assignment operator (+=):
Example
int x = 10;
x += 5;
An inventory of every assignment operator:
| Operator | Example | Same As | Try it |
|---|---|---|---|
| = | x = 5 | x = 5 | Try it » |
| += | x += 3 | x = x + 3 | Try it » |
| -= | x -= 3 | x = x - 3 | Try it » |
| *= | x *= 3 | x = x * 3 | Try it » |
| /= | x /= 3 | x = x / 3 | Try it » |
| %= | x %= 3 | x = x % 3 | Try it » |
| &= | x &= 3 | x = x & 3 | Try it » |
| |= | x |= 3 | x = x | 3 | Try it » |
| ^= | x ^= 3 | x = x ^ 3 | Try it » |
| >>= | x >>= 3 | x = x >> 3 | Try it » |
| <<= | x <<= 3 | x = x << 3 | Try it » |
Java Comparison Operators
When comparing two values, or variables, comparison operators are employed. This is crucial to programming because it facilitates decision-making and answer-finding.
A comparison’s return value can be either true or false. You may read more about these values—also referred to as Boolean values—in the Booleans and If. Another chapter.
In the example below, we determine whether 5 is greater than 3 by using the greater than operator (>):
Example
int x = 5;
int y = 3;
System.out.println(x > y); // returns true, because 5 is higher than 3
Java Logical Operators
Logical operators can also be used to test for true or false values.
To ascertain the logic between variables or values, apply logical operators:
| Operator | Name | Description | Example | Try it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| && | Logical and | Returns true if both statements are true | x < 5 && x < 10 | Try it » |
| || | Logical or | Returns true if one of the statements is true | x < 5 || x < 4 | Try it » |
| ! | Logical not | Reverse the result, returns false if the result is true | !(x < 5 && x < 10) | Try it » |
