diff --git a/blog_posts/javascript-prefix-postfix-operators.md b/blog_posts/javascript-prefix-postfix-operators.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..5b60d993b --- /dev/null +++ b/blog_posts/javascript-prefix-postfix-operators.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +--- +title: What is the difference between prefix and postfix operators? +type: question +tags: javascript,math +authors: chalarangelo +cover: blog_images/plant-candle.jpg +excerpt: While both the prefix and postfix operators increment a value, the resulting value of the expression is very different. +firstSeen: 2021-10-31T05:00:00-04:00 +--- + +The increment operator (`++`) adds `1` to its operand and returns a value. Similarly, the decrement operator (`--`) subtracts `1` from its operand and returns a value. Both of these operators can be used either prefix (`++i`, `--i`) or postfix (`i++`, `i--`). + +If used prefix, the value is incremented/decremented, and the value of the expression is the updated value. + +```js +let i = 0; // i = 0 +let j = ++i; // i = 1, j = 1 +let k = --i; // i = 0, k = 0 +``` + +If used postfix, the value is incremented/decremented, and the value of the expression is the original value. + +```js +let i = 0; // i = 0 +let j = i++; // i = 1, j = 0 +let k = i--; // i = 0, k = 1 +```