C++ Operator Precedence

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C++ Operator Precedence

The operators at the top of this list are evaluated first.

Precedence Operator Description Example Associativity
1 ()
[]
->
.
::
++
--
Grouping operator
Array access
Member access from a pointer
Member access from an object
Scoping operator
Post-increment
Post-decrement
(a + b) / 4;
array[4] = 2;
ptr->age = 34;
obj.age = 34;
Class::age = 2;
for( i = 0; i < 10; i++ ) ...
for( i = 10; i > 0; i-- ) ...
left to right
2 !
~
++
--
-
+
*
&
(type)
sizeof
Logical negation
Bitwise complement
Pre-increment
Pre-decrement
Unary minus
Unary plus
Dereference
Address of
Cast to a given type
Return size in bytes
if( !done ) ...
flags = ~flags;
for( i = 0; i < 10; ++i ) ...
for( i = 10; i > 0; --i ) ...
int i = -1;
int i = +1;
data = *ptr;
address = &obj;
int i = (int) floatNum;
int size = sizeof(floatNum);
right to left
3 ->*
.*
Member pointer selector
Member pointer selector
ptr->*var = 24;
obj.*var = 24;
left to right
4 *
/
%
Multiplication
Division
Modulus
int i = 2 * 4;
float f = 10 / 3;
int rem = 4 % 3;
left to right
5 +
-
Addition
Subtraction
int i = 2 + 3;
int i = 5 - 1;
left to right
6 <<
>>
Bitwise shift left
Bitwise shift right
int flags = 33 << 1;
int flags = 33 >> 1;
left to right
7 <
<=
>
>=
Comparison less-than
Comparison less-than-or-equal-to
Comparison greater-than
Comparison geater-than-or-equal-to
if( i < 42 ) ...
if( i <= 42 ) ...
if( i > 42 ) ...
if( i >= 42 ) ...
left to right
8 ==
!=
Comparison equal-to
Comparison not-equal-to
if( i == 42 ) ...
if( i != 42 ) ...
left to right
9 & Bitwise AND flags = flags & 42; left to right
10 ^ Bitwise exclusive OR flags = flags ^ 42; left to right
11 | Bitwise inclusive (normal) OR flags = flags | 42; left to right
12 && Logical AND if( conditionA && conditionB ) ... left to right
13 || Logical OR if( conditionA || conditionB ) ... left to right
14 ? : Ternary conditional (if-then-else) int i = (a > b) ? a : b; right to left
15 =
+=
-=
*=
/=
%=
&=
^=
|=
<<=
>>=
Assignment operator
Increment and assign
Decrement and assign
Multiply and assign
Divide and assign
Modulo and assign
Bitwise AND and assign
Bitwise exclusive OR and assign
Bitwise inclusive (normal) OR and assign
Bitwise shift left and assign
Bitwise shift right and assign
int a = b;
a += 3;
b -= 4;
a *= 5;
a /= 2;
a %= 3;
flags &= new_flags;
flags ^= new_flags;
flags |= new_flags;
flags <<= 2;
flags >>= 2;
right to left
16 , Sequential evaluation operator for( i = 0, j = 0; i < 10; i++, j++ ) ... left to right

It is important to note that there is no specified precedence for the operation of changing a variable into a value. For example, consider the following code:

  float x, result;
  x = 1;
  result = x / ++x;

The value of result is not guaranteed to be consistent across different compilers, because it is not clear whether the computer should change the variable x (the one that occurs on the left side of the division operator) before using it. Depending on which compiler you are using, the variable result can either be 1.0 or 0.5. The bottom line is that you should not use the same variable multiple times in a single expression when using operators with side effects.