Java Operators

Operators are used to perform operations on variables and values.

In the example below, we use the + operator to add together two values:

Example
int x = 100 + 50;

Although the + operator is often used to add together two values, like in the
example above, it can also be used to add together a variable and a value,
or a variable and another variable:

Example
int sum1 = 100 + 50; // 150 (100 + 50)

int sum2 = sum1 + 250; // 400 (150 + 250)

int sum3 = sum2 + sum2; // 800 (400 + 400)

Java divides the operators into the following groups:

 Arithmetic operators
 Assignment operators
 Comparison operators
 Logical operators
 Bitwise operators

Arithmetic Operators
Arithmetic operators are used to perform common mathematical
operations.

Example
int x = 5;

int y = 3;
System.out.println(x + y);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

int y = 3;

System.out.println(x - y);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

int y = 3;

System.out.println(x * y);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 12;

int y = 3;

System.out.println(x / y);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

int y = 2;

System.out.println(x % y);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

++x;

System.out.println(x);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;
--x;

System.out.println(x);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

Operato Name Description Example

r

+ Addition Adds together two values x+y

- Subtraction Subtracts one value from x-y

another

* Multiplication Multiplies two values x*y

/ Division Divides one value by another x/y

% Modulus Returns the division x%y

remainder

++ Increment Increases the value of a ++x

variable by 1

-- Decrement Decreases the value of a --x

variable by 1

Java Assignment Operators

Assignment operators are used to assign values to variables.
In the example below, we use the assignment operator (=) to assign the
value 10 to a variable called x:

Example
int x = 10;

The addition assignment operator (+=) adds a value to a variable:

Example
int x = 5;

x += 3;

System.out.println(x);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

x -= 3;

System.out.println(x);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

x *= 3;

System.out.println(x);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

double x = 5;

x /= 3;

System.out.println(x);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

x %= 3;
System.out.println(x);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

x &= 3;

System.out.println(x);

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

x |= 3;

System.out.println(x);

A list of all assignment operators:

Operator Example Same As

= x=5 x=5

+= x += 3 x=x+3

-= x -= 3 x=x-3

*= x *= 3 x=x*3

/= x /= 3 x=x/3

%= x %= 3 x=x%3

&= x &= 3 x=x&3

|= x |= 3 x=x|3
 ^= x ^= 3 x=x^3

>>= x >>= 3 x = x >> 3

<<= x <<= 3 x = x << 3

Java Comparison Operators

Comparison operators are used to compare two values (or variables). This is important
in programming, because it helps us to find answers and make decisions.

The return value of a comparison is either true

or false. These values are known
as Boolean values, and you will learn more about them in
the Booleans and If..Else chapter.

In the following example, we use the greater than operator (>) to find out if 5 is greater
than 3:

Example
int x = 5;

int y = 3;

System.out.println(x > y);// returns true, because 5 is higher than 3

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

int y = 3;

System.out.println(x == y); // returns false because 5 is not equal to 3

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

int y = 3;

System.out.println(x != y); // returns true because 5 is not equal to 3

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

int y = 3;

System.out.println(x > y); // returns true because 5 is greater than 3

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

int y = 3;

System.out.println(x < y); // returns false because 5 is not less than 3

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

int y = 3;

System.out.println(x >= y); // returns true because 5 is greater, or equal, to 3

System.out.println("----------------------------");

int x = 5;

int y = 3;

System.out.println(x <= y); // returns false because 5 is neither less than or equal to 3

Operator Name Example

== Equal to x == y

!= Not equal x != y

> Greater than x>y

< Less than x<y

 >= Greater than or equal to x >= y

<= Less than or equal to x <= y

Java Logical Operators

You can also test for true or false values with logical operators.

Logical operators are used to determine the logic between variables or values:

Operator Name Description Example

&& Logical and Returns true if both x < 5 && x < 10

statements are true

|| Logical or Returns true if one of x < 5 || x < 4

the statements is true

! Logical not Reverse the result, !(x < 5 && x < 10)
returns false if the
result is true

Java String Concatenation

String Concatenation
The + operator can be used between strings to combine them. This is
called concatenation:

Example
String firstName = "John";
String lastName = "Doe";

System.out.println(firstName + " " + lastName);

Note that we have added an empty text (" ") to create a space between firstName and
lastName on print.

You can also use the concat() method to concatenate two strings:

Example
String firstName = "John ";

String lastName = "Doe";

System.out.println(firstName.concat(lastName));