Operator precedence and associativity

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Operator precedence and associativity

Operator precedence and associativity show the order or sequence in which operators are used. For example, you have below expression of operators:

4 + 3 * 5 > 4 * (3 + 1) – 5

Find its value? Find its execution sequence or order of the operators?

According to math laws, parentheses expression is evaluated or executed first. (Nested parentheses can be used, in this situation inner parentheses expression execute first). When an expression used without parentheses, then the precedence rules and the associativity rules are applied according to the operator’s order.

Precedence

In operators, precedence rule defines which operator will use first and which operator will use second and go next until operators’ expression will end. Operators are listed below in decreasing order of precedence. The below table (zitoc – 1.0) shows that the operators you have learned about.

Associativity

When some operators have the same precedence are next to each other, their associativity shows the sequence of evaluation. All binary operators are left-associative except single one assignment operators. For example, the operator (+) and operator (-) are the same precedence and are left-associative.

Below both expression are same.

  • w – x + y – z
  • ((w – x) + y) – z
Precedence Operator
12 var– and var++  (Postfix)
11 , + (Unary minus and plus), –var and ++var (Prefix)
10 (type) (Casting)
9 ! (Not)
8 /, %, * (Division, remainder and multiplication)
7 , + (Binary subtraction and addition)
6 <,>,<=,>= (Comparison)
5 !=, == (Equality)
4 ^ (Exclusive OR)
3 && (AND)
2 || (OR)
1 =, -=, +=, %=, *=, /= (Assignment operator)

Table:  (zitoc – 1.0) | Operator Precedence Chart

Note:   Assignment operators are right associative.

Operators are listed below in decreasing order of precedence from the top level to bottom level. Operators have the same precedence which has the same group, and their associativity also showed in the table.

Operator Name Associativity
() Parentheses Left to right
( ) Function call Left to right
[ ] Array subscript Left to right
. Object member access Left to right
++ Postincrement Right to left
Postdecrement Right to left
Operator Name Associativity
++ Pre increment Right to left
Pre decrement Right to left
+ Unary plus Right to left
Unary minus Right to left
! Unary logical negation Right to left
Operator Name Associativity
(type) Unary casting Right to left
new Creating an object Right to left
Operator Name Associativity
* Multiplication Left to right
/ Division Left to right
% Remainder Left to right
Operator Name Associativity
+ Addition Left to right
Subtraction Left to right
Operator Name Associativity
<< Left shift Left to right
>> Right shift with sign extension Left to right
>>>  Right shift with zero extension Left to right
Operator Name Associativity
< Less than Left to right
<= Less than or equal to Left to right
Greater than Left to right
Operator Name Associativity
>= Greater than or equal to Left to right
instance of Checking object type Left to right
Operator Name Associativity
== Equal comparison Left to right
!= Not equal Left to right
Operator Name Associativity
& (Unconditional AND) Left to right
Operator Name Associativity
^ (Exclusive OR) Left to right
Operator Name Associativity
| (Unconditional OR) Left to right
Operator Name Associativity
&& Conditional AND Left to right
Operator Name Associativity
| | Conditional OR Left to right
Operator Name Associativity
?: Ternary condition Right to left
Operator Name Associativity
= Assignment Right to left
+= Addition assignment Right to left
-= Subtraction assignment Right to left
*= Multiplication assignment Right to left
/= Division assignment Right to left
%= Remainder assignment Right to left

Java Loops

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