As a programmer, it is crucial to understand the distinction between += and =+ to write error-free and efficient code.
This article will walk you through the dissimilarities between these two operators and how to use them correctly to make sure your programs operate as intended.
Difference Between += and =+ in C++
In C++, the += operator, also called the “plus-equals” or “addition assignment” operator, is used to add a value to a variable. It is a compound operator that performs an arithmetic operation by assigning the resultant value to the variable present at the left of the operator.
Let’s say you have a variable x that is initialized to 2, and you use the += operator to add 3 to it. The resulting value of x will be 5 because the operator adds the value to the variable and then assigns the updated value to that variable. So, the += operator helps you write shorter and more readable code by combining two operations into one.
The following example shows the above-mentioned scenario in C++:
using namespace std;
int main() {
int x = 2;
x += 3;
cout << x;
return 0;
}
Output
The =+ operator in C++ performs an assignment operation before adding a value to a variable. This means that if you have a variable x that equals 2, and you use the =+ operator to add 3 to it, the operation will be performed as follows: x = 3, and the output will be 3 instead of 5. This is because the value 3 is assigned to the variable x first, and then the addition operation is performed.
The following example shows the illustration of the above-mentioned case in C++:
using namespace std;
int main() {
int x = 2;
x =+ 3;
cout << x;
return 0;
}
Output
Note: It’s worth noting that the =+ operator is not commonly used in C++, and it is recommended to avoid using it.
Here is a combined C++ code that implements both += and =+ operators.
using namespace std;
int main() {
int x = 3;
// Using the += operator
x += 2;
cout << "Value of x using += operator: " << x << endl;
// Using the =+ operator
x =+ 2;
cout << "Value of x using =+ operator: " << x << endl;
return 0;
}
In the above code, we use both operators, and the resulting values are printed to the console using the cout function.
Output
Conclusion
The += operator performs an addition operation and assigns the resultant value to the left-side variable of the operator. While, the =+ operator performs an assignment operation before adding a value to a variable, which is not commonly used in C++. As a C++ programmer, it is crucial to use these operators correctly to ensure the intended program outcome.
