what is the difference between a++ and ++a or a-- and --a in java?

Question

 public void push(E element) {
    if (size == elements.length) {
        resize(); // doubel of size
    }
    elements[size++] = element;
}


public E pop() {
    if (size == 0) {
        throw new java.util.EmptyStackException();
    }
    E element = elements[--size];
    elements[size] = null; // set null in last top
    return element;
}

what is the difference between a++ and ++a or a-- and --a in java

thanks

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4706199/post-increment-and-pre-increment-within-a-for-loop-produce-same-output (Question is asked for C++ but the answer applies to Java as well) — Joachim Rohde, Dec 16 '13 at 12:17
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Increment_and_decrement_operators — Kamlesh Arya, Dec 16 '13 at 12:25
In this case `--size` reverses what `size++` does. The important difference is the value left over by the operation. — Peter Lawrey, Dec 16 '13 at 13:13

score 20 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:25

a++ or a-- is postfix operation, meaning that the value of a will get changed after the evaluation of expression.

++a or --a is prefix operation, meaning that the value of a will get changed before the evaluation of expression.

lets assume this;

a = 4;

b = a++; // first b will be 4, and after this a will be 5

// now a value is 5
c = ++a; // first a will be 6, then 6 will be assigned to c

Refer this answer also.

what is the difference between a++ and ++a or a-- and --a in java?

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