compound assignment operators in c language

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C Compound Assignment

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The compound-assignment operators combine the simple-assignment operator with another binary operator. Compound-assignment operators perform the operation specified by the additional operator, then assign the result to the left operand. For example, a compound-assignment expression such as

expression1 += expression2

can be understood as

expression1 = expression1 + expression2

However, the compound-assignment expression is not equivalent to the expanded version because the compound-assignment expression evaluates expression1 only once, while the expanded version evaluates expression1 twice: in the addition operation and in the assignment operation.

The operands of a compound-assignment operator must be of integral or floating type. Each compound-assignment operator performs the conversions that the corresponding binary operator performs and restricts the types of its operands accordingly. The addition-assignment ( += ) and subtraction-assignment ( -= ) operators can also have a left operand of pointer type, in which case the right-hand operand must be of integral type. The result of a compound-assignment operation has the value and type of the left operand.

In this example, a bitwise-inclusive-AND operation is performed on n and MASK , and the result is assigned to n . The manifest constant MASK is defined with a #define preprocessor directive.

C Assignment Operators

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+= operator

• Add operation.
• Assignment of the result of add operation.
• Statement i+=2 is equal to i=i+2 , hence 2 will be added to the value of i, which gives us 4.
• Finally, the result of addition, 4 is assigned back to i, updating its original value from 2 to 4.

Example with += operator

-= operator.

• Subtraction operation.
• Assignment of the result of subtract operation.
• Statement i-=2 is equal to i=i-2 , hence 2 will be subtracted from the value of i, which gives us 0.
• Finally, the result of subtraction i.e. 0 is assigned back to i, updating its value to 0.

Example with -= operator

*= operator.

• Multiplication operation.
• Assignment of the result of multiplication operation.
• Statement i*=2 is equal to i=i*2 , hence 2 will be multiplied with the value of i, which gives us 4.
• Finally, the result of multiplication, 4 is assigned back to i, updating its value to 4.

Example with *= operator

/= operator.

• Division operation.
• Assignment of the result of division operation.
• Statement i/=2 is equal to i=i/2 , hence 4 will be divided by the value of i, which gives us 2.
• Finally, the result of division i.e. 2 is assigned back to i, updating its value from 4 to 2.

Example with /= operator

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Assignment Operators In C [ Full Information With Examples ]

Assignment Operators In C

Assignment operators is a binary operator which is used to assign values in a variable , with its right and left sides being a one-one operand. The operand on the left side is variable in which the value is assigned and the right side operands can contain any of the constant, variable, and expression.

The Assignment operator is a lower priority operator. its priority has much lower than the rest of the other operators. Its priority is more than just the comma operator. The priority of all other operators is more than the assignment operator.

We can assign the same value to multiple variables simultaneously by the assignment operator.

x = y = z = 100

Here x, y, and z are initialized to 100.

In C language, the assignment operator can be divided into two categories.

• Simple assignment operator
• Compound assignment operators

1. Simple Assignment Operator In C

This operator is used to assign left-side values ​​to the right-side operands, simple assignment operators are represented by (=).

2. Compound Assignment Operators In C

Compound Assignment Operators use the old value of a variable to calculate its new value and reassign the value obtained from the calculation to the same variable.

Examples of compound assignment operators are: (Example: + =, – =, * =, / =,% =, & =, ^ =)

Look at these two statements:

Here in this example, adding 5 to the x variable in the second statement is again being assigned to the x variable.

Compound Assignment Operators provide us with the C language to perform such operation even more effecient and in less time.

Syntax of Compound Assignment Operators

Here op can be any arithmetic operators (+, -, *, /,%).

The above statement is equivalent to the following depending on the function:

Let us now know about some important compound assignment operators one by one.

“+ =” -: This operator adds the right operand to the left operand and assigns the output to the left operand.

“- =” -: This operator subtracts the right operand from the left operand and returns the result to the left operand.

“* =” -: This operator multiplies the right operand with the left operand and assigns the result to the left operand.

“/ =” -: This operator splits the left operand with the right operand and assigns the result to the left operand.

“% =” -: This operator takes the modulus using two operands and assigns the result to the left operand.

There are many other assignment operators such as left shift and (<< =) operator, right shift and operator (>> =), bitwise and assignment operator (& =), bitwise OR assignment operator (^ =)

List of Assignment Operators In C

Read More -:

• What is Operators In C
• Relational Operators In C
• Logical Operators In C
• Bitwise Operators In C
• Arithmetic Operators In C
• Conditional Operator in C
• Download C Language Notes Pdf
• C Language Tutorial For Beginners
• C Programming Examples With Output
• 250+ C Programs for Practice PDF Free Download

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cppreference.com

Punctuation.

These are the punctuation symbols in C. The meaning of each symbol is detailed in the linked pages.

[ edit ] { }

• In a struct or union definition, delimit the struct-declaration-list .
• In an enum definition, delimit the enumerator list.
• Delimit a compound statement . The compound statement may be part of a function definition .
• In initialization , delimit the initializers.

[ edit ] [ ]

• Subscript operator .
• Part of array declarator in a declaration or a type-id .
• In initialization , introduce a designator for an array element. (since C99)
• In an attribute specifier , delimit the attributes. (since C23)
• Introduce a preprocessing directive .
• The preprocessing operator for stringification .

[ edit ] ##

• The preprocessing operator for token pasting .

[ edit ] ( )

• In an expression, indicate grouping .
• Function call operator .
• In a sizeof , _Alignof (since C11) , typeof or typeof_unqual (since C23) expression, delimit the operand.
• In an explicit cast , delimit the type-id.
• In a compound literal , delimit the type-id. (since C99)
• In a declaration or a type-id , indicate grouping.
• In a function declarator (in a declaration or a type-id ), delimit the parameter list.
• In an if , switch , while , do-while , or for statement, delimit the controlling clause.
• In a function-like macro definition , delimit the macro parameters.
• In a function-like macro invocation , delimit the macro arguments or prevent commas from being interpreted as argument separators.
• Part of a defined , __has_include , __has_embed or __has_c_attribute (since C23) preprocessing operator.
• Part of a generic selection expression . (since C11)
• In an _Atomic type specifier, delimit the type-id. (since C11)
• In a static assertion declaration , delimit the operands. (since C11)
• In an _Alignas specifier, delimit the operand. (since C11)
• In an attribute , delimit the attribute arguments. (since C23)
• In a bit-precise integer type name ( _BitInt ( N ) ), delimit the size. (since C23)
• Part of __VA_OPT__ replacement in a variadic macro definition. (since C23)
• In a preprocessor parameter used in #embed directives and __has_embed preprocessing expressions, delimit the preprocessor parameter clause. (since C23)
• Indicate the end of
• a statement (including the init-statement of a for statement)
• a declaration or struct-declaration-list
• Separate the second and third clauses of a for statement .
• Part of conditional operator .
• Part of label declaration .
• In a bit-field member declaration , introduce the width.
• Introduce an enum base , which specifies the underlying type of the enum. (since C23)
• In a generic association , delimit the type-id or default and the selected expression. (since C11)

[ edit ] ...

• In the parameter list of a function declarator, signify a variadic function .
• In a macro definition , signify a variadic macro. (since C99)

[ edit ] ::

• In an attribute , indicate attribute scope. (since C23)
• In a preprocessor prefixed parameter (used by #embed and __has_embed ), indicate scope. (since C23)
• Member access operator .
• In initialization , introduce a designator for a struct/union member. (since C99)

[ ">edit ] ->

• Unary complement operator (a.k.a. bitwise not operator) .
• Logical not operator .
• Unary plus operator .
• Binary plus operator .
• Unary minus operator .
• Binary minus operator .
• Indirection operator .
• Multiplication operator .
• Pointer operator operator in a declarator or in a type-id .
• Placeholder for the length of a variable-length array declarator in a function declaration . (since C99)
• Division operator .
• Modulo operator .
• Bitwise xor operator .

[ edit ] &

• Address-of operator .
• Bitwise and operator .
• Bitwise or operator .
• Simple assignment operator .
• In initialization , delimit the object and the initializer list.
• In an enum definition , introduce the value of enumeration constant.

[ edit ] +=

• Compound assignment operator .

[ edit ] -=

[ edit ] *=, [ edit ] /=, [ edit ] %=, [ edit ] ^=, [ edit ] &=, [ edit ] |=, [ edit ] ==.

• Equality operator .

[ edit ] !=

• Inequality operator .

[ edit ] <

• Less-than operator .
• Introduce a header name in
• a #include directive
• a __has_include preprocessing expression (since C23)
• a #embed directive (since C23)
• a __has_embed preprocessing expression (since C23)
• implementation-defined locations within a #pragma directive

[ ">edit ] >

• Greater-than operator .
• Indicate the end of a header name in

[ edit ] <=

• Less-than-or-equal-to operator .

[ =">edit ] >=

• Greater-than-or-equal-to operator .

[ edit ] &&

• Logical and operator .

[ edit ] ||

• Logical or operator .

[ edit ] <<

• Bitwise shift operator .

[ >">edit ] >>

[ edit ] <<=, [ >=">edit ] >>=, [ edit ] ++.

• Increment operator .

[ edit ] --

• Decrement operator .
• Comma operator .
• List separator in
• the declarator list in a declaration
• initializer list in initialization , including compound literals (since C99)
• the argument list in a function call expression
• the enumerator list in an enum declaration
• a function parameter list
• the macro parameter list in a function-like macro definition
• the macro argument list in a function-like macro invocation , unless found between an inner set of parentheses
• the generic association list in a generic selection expression (since C11)
• an attribute list (since C23)
• In a static assertion declaration , separate the arguments. (since C11)
• In a generic selection expression , separate the controlling expression and the generic association list. (since C11)

[ edit ] References

• C23 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2023):
• 6.4.6 Punctuators (p: 68-69)
• C17 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2018):
• 6.4.6 Punctuators (p: 52-53)
• C11 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2011):
• 6.4.6 Punctuators (p: 72-73)
• C99 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:1999):
• 6.4.6 Punctuators (p: 63-64)
• C89/C90 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:1990):
• 3.1.6 Punctuators

[ edit ] See also

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Assignment operator in c.

Last Updated on June 23, 2023 by Prepbytes

This type of operator is employed for transforming and assigning values to variables within an operation. In an assignment operation, the right side represents a value, while the left side corresponds to a variable. It is essential that the value on the right side has the same data type as the variable on the left side. If this requirement is not fulfilled, the compiler will issue an error.

What is Assignment Operator in C language?

In C, the assignment operator serves the purpose of assigning a value to a variable. It is denoted by the equals sign (=) and plays a vital role in storing data within variables for further utilization in code. When using the assignment operator, the value present on the right-hand side is assigned to the variable on the left-hand side. This fundamental operation allows developers to store and manipulate data effectively throughout their programs.

Example of Assignment Operator in C

For example, consider the following line of code:

Types of Assignment Operators in C

Here is a list of the assignment operators that you can find in the C language:

Simple assignment operator (=): This is the basic assignment operator, which assigns the value on the right-hand side to the variable on the left-hand side.

Addition assignment operator (+=): This operator adds the value on the right-hand side to the variable on the left-hand side and assigns the result back to the variable.

x += 3; // Equivalent to x = x + 3; (adds 3 to the current value of "x" and assigns the result back to "x")

Subtraction assignment operator (-=): This operator subtracts the value on the right-hand side from the variable on the left-hand side and assigns the result back to the variable.

x -= 4; // Equivalent to x = x – 4; (subtracts 4 from the current value of "x" and assigns the result back to "x")

* Multiplication assignment operator ( =):** This operator multiplies the value on the right-hand side with the variable on the left-hand side and assigns the result back to the variable.

x = 2; // Equivalent to x = x 2; (multiplies the current value of "x" by 2 and assigns the result back to "x")

Division assignment operator (/=): This operator divides the variable on the left-hand side by the value on the right-hand side and assigns the result back to the variable.

x /= 2; // Equivalent to x = x / 2; (divides the current value of "x" by 2 and assigns the result back to "x")

Bitwise AND assignment (&=): The bitwise AND assignment operator "&=" performs a bitwise AND operation between the value on the left-hand side and the value on the right-hand side. It then assigns the result back to the left-hand side variable.

x &= 3; // Binary: 0011 // After bitwise AND assignment: x = 1 (Binary: 0001)

Bitwise OR assignment (|=): The bitwise OR assignment operator "|=" performs a bitwise OR operation between the value on the left-hand side and the value on the right-hand side. It then assigns the result back to the left-hand side variable.

x |= 3; // Binary: 0011 // After bitwise OR assignment: x = 7 (Binary: 0111)

Bitwise XOR assignment (^=): The bitwise XOR assignment operator "^=" performs a bitwise XOR operation between the value on the left-hand side and the value on the right-hand side. It then assigns the result back to the left-hand side variable.

x ^= 3; // Binary: 0011 // After bitwise XOR assignment: x = 6 (Binary: 0110)

Left shift assignment (<<=): The left shift assignment operator "<<=" shifts the bits of the value on the left-hand side to the left by the number of positions specified by the value on the right-hand side. It then assigns the result back to the left-hand side variable.

x <<= 2; // Binary: 010100 (Shifted left by 2 positions) // After left shift assignment: x = 20 (Binary: 10100)

Right shift assignment (>>=): The right shift assignment operator ">>=" shifts the bits of the value on the left-hand side to the right by the number of positions specified by the value on the right-hand side. It then assigns the result back to the left-hand side variable.

x >>= 2; // Binary: 101 (Shifted right by 2 positions) // After right shift assignment: x = 5 (Binary: 101)

Conclusion The assignment operator in C, denoted by the equals sign (=), is used to assign a value to a variable. It is a fundamental operation that allows programmers to store data in variables for further use in their code. In addition to the simple assignment operator, C provides compound assignment operators that combine arithmetic or bitwise operations with assignment, allowing for concise and efficient code.

FAQs related to Assignment Operator in C

Q1. Can I assign a value of one data type to a variable of another data type? In most cases, assigning a value of one data type to a variable of another data type will result in a warning or error from the compiler. It is generally recommended to assign values of compatible data types to variables.

Q2. What is the difference between the assignment operator (=) and the comparison operator (==)? The assignment operator (=) is used to assign a value to a variable, while the comparison operator (==) is used to check if two values are equal. It is important not to confuse these two operators.

Q3. Can I use multiple assignment operators in a single statement? No, it is not possible to use multiple assignment operators in a single statement. Each assignment operator should be used separately for assigning values to different variables.

Q4. Are there any limitations on the right-hand side value of the assignment operator? The right-hand side value of the assignment operator should be compatible with the data type of the left-hand side variable. If the data types are not compatible, it may lead to unexpected behavior or compiler errors.

Q5. Can I assign the result of an expression to a variable using the assignment operator? Yes, it is possible to assign the result of an expression to a variable using the assignment operator. For example, x = y + z; assigns the sum of y and z to the variable x.

Q6. What happens if I assign a value to an uninitialized variable? Assigning a value to an uninitialized variable will initialize it with the assigned value. However, it is considered good practice to explicitly initialize variables before using them to avoid potential bugs or unintended behavior.

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Assignment Operators In C++

In C++, the assignment operator forms the backbone of many algorithms and computational processes by performing a simple operation like assigning a value to a variable. It is denoted by equal sign ( = ) and provides one of the most basic operations in any programming language that is used to assign some value to the variables in C++ or in other words, it is used to store some kind of information.

The right-hand side value will be assigned to the variable on the left-hand side. The variable and the value should be of the same data type.

The value can be a literal or another variable of the same data type.

Compound Assignment Operators

In C++, the assignment operator can be combined into a single operator with some other operators to perform a combination of two operations in one single statement. These operators are called Compound Assignment Operators. There are 10 compound assignment operators in C++:

• Addition Assignment Operator ( += )
• Subtraction Assignment Operator ( -= )
• Multiplication Assignment Operator ( *= )
• Division Assignment Operator ( /= )
• Modulus Assignment Operator ( %= )
• Bitwise AND Assignment Operator ( &= )
• Bitwise OR Assignment Operator ( |= )
• Bitwise XOR Assignment Operator ( ^= )
• Left Shift Assignment Operator ( <<= )
• Right Shift Assignment Operator ( >>= )

Lets see each of them in detail.

1. Addition Assignment Operator (+=)

In C++, the addition assignment operator (+=) combines the addition operation with the variable assignment allowing you to increment the value of variable by a specified expression in a concise and efficient way.

This above expression is equivalent to the expression:

2. Subtraction Assignment Operator (-=)

The subtraction assignment operator (-=) in C++ enables you to update the value of the variable by subtracting another value from it. This operator is especially useful when you need to perform subtraction and store the result back in the same variable.

3. Multiplication Assignment Operator (*=)

In C++, the multiplication assignment operator (*=) is used to update the value of the variable by multiplying it with another value.

4. Division Assignment Operator (/=)

The division assignment operator divides the variable on the left by the value on the right and assigns the result to the variable on the left.

5. Modulus Assignment Operator (%=)

The modulus assignment operator calculates the remainder when the variable on the left is divided by the value or variable on the right and assigns the result to the variable on the left.

6. Bitwise AND Assignment Operator (&=)

This operator performs a bitwise AND between the variable on the left and the value on the right and assigns the result to the variable on the left.

7. Bitwise OR Assignment Operator (|=)

The bitwise OR assignment operator performs a bitwise OR between the variable on the left and the value or variable on the right and assigns the result to the variable on the left.

8. Bitwise XOR Assignment Operator (^=)

The bitwise XOR assignment operator performs a bitwise XOR between the variable on the left and the value or variable on the right and assigns the result to the variable on the left.

9. Left Shift Assignment Operator (<<=)

The left shift assignment operator shifts the bits of the variable on the left to left by the number of positions specified on the right and assigns the result to the variable on the left.

10. Right Shift Assignment Operator (>>=)

The right shift assignment operator shifts the bits of the variable on the left to the right by a number of positions specified on the right and assigns the result to the variable on the left.

Also, it is important to note that all of the above operators can be overloaded for custom operations with user-defined data types to perform the operations we want.

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Compound Assignment Operators in C++

The compound assignment operators are specified in the form e1 op= e2, where e1 is a modifiable l-value not of const type and e2 is one of the following −

• An arithmetic type
• A pointer, if op is + or –

The e1 op= e2 form behaves as e1 = e1 op e2, but e1 is evaluated only once.

The following are the compound assignment operators in C++ −

Let's have a look at an example using some of these operators −

This will give the output −

Note that Compound assignment to an enumerated type generates an error message. If the left operand is of a pointer type, the right operand must be of a pointer type or it must be a constant expression that evaluates to 0. If the left operand is of an integral type, the right operand must not be of a pointer type.

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