<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Binary operators and infix notation

Binary operators use infix notation, which means that the operator appears between its operands.

General behavior of an operator

As a result of performing the specified action, an operator can be said to return a value (or evaluate to a value) of a given type. The type of value returned depends on the operator and the type of the operands.

Evaluating to a value

To evaluate to a value means that after the action is performed, the operator and its operands are effectively replaced in the expression by the value that is returned.

Operator categories

I will divide Java's operators into the following categories for further discussion:

  • arithmetic operators
  • relational and conditional (logical) operators
  • bitwise operators
  • assignment operators

Arithmetic operators

Java supports various arithmetic operators on all floating point and integer numbers.

The binary arithmetic operators

The following table lists the binary arithmetic operators supported by Java.

The binary arithmetic operators Operator Description+ Adds its operands - Subtracts the right operand from the leftoperand * Multiplies the operands/ Divides the left operand by the right operand % Remainder of dividing the left operand bythe right operand

String concatenation

As mentioned earlier, the plus operator (+) is also used to concatenate strings as in the following code fragment:

String concatenation "MyVariable has a value of " + MyVariable + " in this program."

Coercion

Note that this operation also coerces the value of MyVariable to a string representation for use in the expression only. However, the value stored in the variable is not modified in any lastingway.

Unary arithmetic operators

Java supports the following unary arithmetic operators.

Unary arithmetic operators

Operator Description + Indicates a positive value- Negates, or changes algebraic sign ++ Adds one to the operand,both prefix and postfix -- Subtracts one from operand,both prefix and postfix

The result of the increment and decrement operators being either prefix or postfix was discussed earlier .

Relational and conditional (logical) operators

Binary Relational operators

Java supports the set of binary relational operators shown in the following table. Relational operators in Java return either true or false as a boolean type.

Binary Relational operators Operator Returns true if>Left operand is greater than right operand>= Left operand is greater than or equal to right operand<Left operand is less than right operand<= Left operand is less than or equal to right operand== Left operand is equal to right operand != Left operand is not equal to right operand

Conditional expressions

Relational operators are frequently used in the conditional expressions of control statement such as the one in the code fragment shown below.

Conditional expressions if(LeftVariable<= RightVariable). . .

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Object-oriented programming (oop) with java. OpenStax CNX. Jun 29, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11441/1.201
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Object-oriented programming (oop) with java' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask