4/22/24, 8:42 PM Java Operator Precedence - Javatpoint
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Java Operator Precedence
In this section, we will learn the operator precedence in Java along with examples.
What is operator precedence?
The operator precedence represents how two expressions are bind together. In an expression,
it determines the grouping of operators with operands and decides how an expression will
evaluate.
While solving an expression two things must be kept in mind the first is a precedence and the
second is associativity.
Precedence
Precedence is the priority for grouping different types of operators with their operands. It is
meaningful only if an expression has more than one operator with higher or lower precedence.
The operators having higher precedence are evaluated first. If we want to evaluate lower
precedence operators first, we must group operands by using parentheses and then evaluate.
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Associativity
We must follow associativity if an expression has more than two operators of the same
precedence. In such a case, an expression can be solved either left-to-right or right-to-left,
accordingly.
Java Operator Precedence Table
The following table describes the precedence and associativity of operators used in Java.
Precedence Operator Type Associativity
15 () Parentheses Left to Right
[] Array subscript
· Member selection
14 ++ Unary post-increment Right to left
-- Unary post-decrement
13 ++ Unary pre-increment Right to left
-- Unary pre-decrement
+ Unary plus
- Unary minus
! Unary logical negation
~ Unary bitwise complement
(type) Unary type cast
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12 * Multiplication Left to right
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/ Division
% Modulus
11 + Addition Left to right
- Subtraction
10 << Bitwise left shift Left to right
>> Bitwise right shift with sign extension
>>> Bitwise right shift with zero extension
9 < Relational less than Left to right
<= Relational less than or equal
> Relational greater than
>= Relational greater than or equal
instanceof Type comparison (objects only)
8 == Relational is equal to Left to right
!= Relational is not equal to
7 & Bitwise AND Left to right
6 ^ Bitwise exclusive OR Left to right
5 | Bitwise inclusive OR Left to right
4 && Logical AND Left to right
3 || Logical OR Left to right
2 ?: Ternary conditional Right to left
1 = Assignment Right to left
+= Addition assignment
-= Subtraction assignment
*= Multiplication assignment
/= Division assignment
%= Modulus assignment
Note: Larger the number higher the precedence.
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Java Operator Precedence Example
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Let's understand the operator precedence through an example. Consider the following
expression and guess the answer.
1+5*3
You might be thinking that the answer would be 18 but not so. Because the multiplication (*)
operator has higher precedence than the addition (+) operator. Hence, the expression first
evaluates 5*3 and then evaluates the remaining expression i.e. 1+15. Therefore, the answer will
be 16.
Let's see another example. Consider the following expression.
x+y*z/k
In the above expression, * and / operations are performed before + because of precedence. y is
multiplied by z before it is divided by k because of associativity.
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