Assignment Operators in Java Programming

What is Assignment Operator

Assignment Operator in Java is used for assigning value to a variable. Using the assignment operator we can assign the value which is on the right side of the operator to the variable on the left side of the operator.

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Let's discuss about the different types of assignment operators with examples.

Assign Operator =

The Assign Operator = is used to assign a value to a variable. It takes the value on its right-hand side and assigns it to the variable on its left-hand side.

int a, b;
a=5;    // value 5 is assigned to variable a
b=a;    // value of variable a which is 5 is assigned to the variable b

As you can see the value 5 which is on the right side of the operator = has been assigned to the left in the variable a. In the same way value of the variable a (5) which is on the right side of the operator = has been assigned to the left in the variable b

Add and Assign Operator +=

The Add and Assign Operator += is a combination of + and = operators. This operator adds the value of the right-hand operand to the left-hand operand and then assigns the result back to the left-hand operand. It is a shorthand way to perform addition and assignment in a single step.

int a=2, b=10, c=5;
a+=2;    // can be written as a=a+2 (a=2+2) result is a=4
b+=c;    // can be written as b=b+c (b=10+5) result is b=15

Subtract and Assign Operator -=

The Subtract and Assign Operator -= is a combination of - and = operators. This operator subtracts the value of the right-hand operand from the left-hand operand and then assigns the result back to the left-hand operand. It is a shorthand way to perform subtraction and assignment in a single step.

int a=6, b=10, c=5;
a-=2;    // can be written as a=a-2 (a=6-2) result is a=4
b-=c;    // can be written as b=b-c (b=10-5) result is b=5

Multiply and Assign Operator *=

The *= operator is a combination of * and = operators. This operator multiplies the value of the left-hand operand by the right-hand operand and then assigns the result back to the left-hand operand. It is a shorthand way to perform multiplication and assignment in a single step.

int a=7, b=10, c=5;
a*=2;    // can be written as a=a*2 (a=7*2) result is a=14
b*=c;    // can be written as b=b*c (b=10*5) result is b=50

Divide and Assign Operator /=

The /= operator is a combination of / and = operators. This operator divides the value of the left-hand operand by the right-hand operand and then assigns the result back to the left-hand operand. It is a shorthand way to perform division and assignment in a single step.

int a=18, b=10, c=5;
a/=2;    // can be written as a=a/2 (a=18/2) result is a=9 (quotient)
b/=c;    // can be written as b=b/c (b=10/5) result is b=2 (quotient)

Modulus and Assign Operator %=

The %= operator is a combination of % and = operators. This operator calculates the remainder of the division of the left-hand operand by the right-hand operand and then assigns the result back to the left-hand operand. It is a shorthand way to perform modulus and assignment in a single step.

int a=6, b=10, c=8;
a%=2;    // can be written as a=a%2 (a=6%2) result is a=0 (remainder)
b%=c;    // can be written as b=b%c (b=10%8) result is b=2 (remainder)