increment operator ++i does not cause an error in python

Question

Since the increment operator ++ is not supported in python, why doesn't it cause an error when prefixing a variable. Example:

i = 3
++i

prints 3 on the interactive console. Why is that?

Answer 1

Take a look - it's just a sign:

>>> i = 3
>>> +i
3
>>> ++i
3
>>> +++i
3
>>> -i
-3
>>> --i
3
>>> ---i
-3

Answer 2

Python treats ++i as +(+i), that would compile fine, and print the same value as of i.