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iOS Objective-C Basics (Retired) Pointers and Memory Pointer Power

Posted by Chris Olsen
Chris Olsen
258 Points

Auto increment syntax

In Douglas Turner's Arrays, Length and Size video, he auto increments the variable 'letter' like this: ++letter. Is that the same as letter++? Must the ++ be in front of the the variable name?

1 Answer

Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points
Stone Preston
Stone Preston
42,016 Points

they are not the same

++variable means that the variable is incremented by one and the new value is returned. variable++ means that the variable is incremented by one and the old value is returned:

int i = 5;
i = ++i; // i is incremented and new value is returned. now i = 6

int j = 5;
i = j++; // i is now 5. the value of j before the increment is returned and then j is incremented after the assignment so j is now 6
Chris Olsen
Chris Olsen
258 Points

Thanks, Stone. Got it.