Thread: Incrementing styles (x = x++) vs (x +=1) - when to use them

I understand that ++x; is a prefix expression and x++; is a postfix.

What I can't grasp the concept of is the difference between:

x = x++; vs. x++;

Also, while I'm comparison shopping, why use x++; or ++x; as opposed to x = +=1; ?

If anyone has the time, can you break down the do's and don'ts of:

x = x++;
x++;
x +=1;

??

thanks!

Originally Posted by vertigoat

What I can't grasp the concept of is the difference between:

x = x++; vs. x++;

The former results in undefined behaviour; the latter is probably what you wanted to write.

Originally Posted by vertigoat

Also, while I'm comparison shopping, why use x++; or ++x; as opposed to x = +=1; ?

My reasoning is that they are more concise and people are used to them. Otherwise, no big deal. It might even be the case on certain hardware with certain non-optimising compilers that the prefix/postfix operators result in code that is more efficient, but that's generally not a concern.