Topic 3 – Operators and Keywords in Java Programming
Operators in Java
Operator in Java is a symbol that is used to perform operations. For example: +, -, *, / etc.
Types of Operators
There are many types of operators in Java which are given below:
o Unary Operator, o Bitwise Operator,
o Arithmetic Operator, o Logical Operator,
o Shift Operator, o Ternary Operator and
o Relational Operator, o Assignment Operator.
Java Operator Precedence
Operator precedence determines the order in which the operators in an expression are evaluated.
Now, take a look at the statement below:
int myInt = 12 - 4 * 2;
What will be the value of myInt? Will it be (12 - 4)*2, that is, 16? Or it will be 12 - (4 * 2), that is, 4?
When two operators share a common operand, 4 in this case, the operator with the highest precedence is
operated first.
In Java, the precedence of * is higher than that of -. Hence, the multiplication is performed before subtraction,
and the value of myInt will be 4.
The table below lists the precedence of operators in Java; higher it appears in the table, the higher its
precedence.
Operator Type Category Precedence
Unary Postfix expr++ expr--
Prefix ++expr --expr +expr -expr ~ !
Arithmetic Multiplicative */%
additive +-
Shift shift << >> >>>
Relational comparison < > <= >= instanceof
equality == !=
Bitwise bitwise AND &
bitwise exclusive OR ^
bitwise inclusive OR |
Logical logical AND &&
logical OR ||
Ternary ternary ?:
Assignment assignment = += -= *= /= %= &= ^= |= <<= >>= >>>=
Java Unary Operator
The Java unary operators require only one operand. Unary operators are used to perform various operations
i.e.:
o incrementing/decrementing a value by one
o negating an expression
o inverting the value of a boolean
Java Unary Operator Example: ++ and --
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. int x=10;
4. [Link](x++);//10 (11)
5. [Link](++x);//12
6. [Link](x--);//12 (11)
7. [Link](--x);//10
8. }}
Output:
10
12
12
10
Java Unary Operator Example 2: ++ and --
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. int a=10;
4. int b=10;
5. [Link](a++ + ++a);//10+12=22
6. [Link](b++ + b++);//10+11=21
7. }}
Output:
22
21
Java Unary Operator Example: ~ and !
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. int a=10;
4. int b=-10;
5. boolean c=true;
6. boolean d=false;
7. [Link](~a);//-11 (minus of total positive value which starts from 0)
8. [Link](~b);//9 (positive of total minus, positive starts from 0)
9. [Link](!c);//false (opposite of boolean value)
10. [Link](!d);//true
11. }}
Output:
-11
9
false
true
Java Arithmetic Operators
Java arithmetic operators are used to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They act as
basic mathematical operations.
Java Arithmetic Operator Example: Expression
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. [Link](10*10/5+3-1*4/2);
4. }}
Output:
21
Java Left Shift Operator
The Java left shift operator << is used to shift all of the bits in a value to the left side of a specified number of
times.
Java Left Shift Operator Example
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. [Link](10<<2);//10*2^2=10*4=40
4. [Link](10<<3);//10*2^3=10*8=80
5. [Link](20<<2);//20*2^2=20*4=80
6. [Link](15<<4);//15*2^4=15*16=240
7. }}
Output:
40
80
80
240
Java Right Shift Operator
The Java right shift operator >> is used to move the value of the left operand to right by the number of bits
specified by the right operand.
Java Right Shift Operator Example
1. public OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. [Link](10>>2);//10/2^2=10/4=2
4. [Link](20>>2);//20/2^2=20/4=5
5. [Link](20>>3);//20/2^3=20/8=2
6. }}
Output:
2
5
2
Java Shift Operator Example: >> vs >>>
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. //For positive number, >> and >>> works same
4. [Link](20>>2);
5. [Link](20>>>2);
6. //For negative number, >>> changes parity bit (MSB) to 0
7. [Link](-20>>2);
8. [Link](-20>>>2);
9. }}
Output:
5
5
-5
1073741819
Java AND Operator Example: Logical && and Bitwise &
The logical && operator doesn't check the second condition if the first condition is false. It checks the second
condition only if the first one is true.
The bitwise & operator always checks both conditions whether first condition is true or false.
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. int a=10;
4. int b=5;
5. int c=20;
6. [Link](a<b&&a<c);//false && true = false
7. [Link](a<b&a<c);//false & true = false
8. }}
Output:
false
false
Java AND Operator Example: Logical && vs Bitwise &
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. int a=10;
4. int b=5;
5. int c=20;
6. [Link](a<b&&a++<c);//false && true = false
7. [Link](a);//10 because second condition is not checked
8. [Link](a<b&a++<c);//false && true = false
9. [Link](a);//11 because second condition is checked
10. }}
Output:
false
10
false
11
Java OR Operator Example: Logical || and Bitwise |
The logical || operator doesn't check the second condition if the first condition is true. It checks the second
condition only if the first one is false.
The bitwise | operator always checks both conditions whether first condition is true or false.
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. int a=10;
4. int b=5;
5. int c=20;
6. [Link](a>b||a<c);//true || true = true
7. [Link](a>b|a<c);//true | true = true
8. //|| vs |
9. [Link](a>b||a++<c);//true || true = true
10. [Link](a);//10 because second condition is not checked
11. [Link](a>b|a++<c);//true | true = true
12. [Link](a);//11 because second condition is checked
13. }}
Output:
true
true
true
10
true
11
Java Ternary Operator
Java Ternary operator is used as one line replacement for if-then-else statement and used a lot in Java
programming. It is the only conditional operator which takes three operands.
Java Ternary Operator Example
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. int a=2;
4. int b=5;
5. int min=(a<b)?a:b;
6. [Link](min);
7. }}
Output:
2
Another Example:
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. int a=10;
4. int b=5;
5. int min=(a<b)?a:b;
6. [Link](min);
7. }}
Output:
5
Java Assignment Operator
Java assignment operator is one of the most common operators. It is used to assign the value on its right to
the operand on its left.
Java Assignment Operator Example
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. int a=10;
4. int b=20;
5. a+=4;//a=a+4 (a=10+4)
6. b-=4;//b=b-4 (b=20-4)
7. [Link](a);
8. [Link](b);
9. }}
Output:
14
16
Java Assignment Operator Example
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String[] args){
3. int a=10;
4. a+=3;//10+3
5. [Link](a);
6. a-=4;//13-4
7. [Link](a);
8. a*=2;//9*2
9. [Link](a);
10. a/=2;//18/2
11. [Link](a);
12. }}
Output:
13
9
18
9
Java Assignment Operator Example: Adding short
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. short a=10;
4. short b=10;
5. //a+=b;//a=a+b internally so fine
6. a=a+b;//Compile time error because 10+10=20 now int
7. [Link](a);
8. }}
Output:
Compile time error
After type cast:
1. public class OperatorExample{
2. public static void main(String args[]){
3. short a=10;
4. short b=10;
5. a=(short)(a+b);//20 which is int now converted to short
6. [Link](a);
7. }}
Output:
20
Associativity of Operators in Java
If an expression has two operators with similar precedence, the expression is evaluated according to its
associativity (either left to right, or right to left). Let's take an example.
a = b = c;
Here, the value of c is assigned to variable b. Then the value of b is assigned of variable a. Why? It's because
the associativity of = operator is from right to left.
Java Keywords
Java keywords are also known as reserved words. Keywords are particular words that act as a key to a code.
These are predefined words by Java so they cannot be used as a variable or object name or class name.
List of Java Keywords
A list of Java keywords or reserved words is given below:
1. Abstract: Java abstract keyword is used to declare an abstract class. An abstract class can provide the
implementation of the interface. It can have abstract and non-abstract methods.
2. Boolean: Java boolean keyword is used to declare a variable as a boolean type. It can hold True and
False values only.
3. break: Java break keyword is used to break the loop or switch statement. It breaks the current flow of
the program at specified conditions.
4. byte: Java byte keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold 8-bit data values.
5. case: Java case keyword is used with the switch statements to mark blocks of text.
6. catch: Java catch keyword is used to catch the exceptions generated by try statements. It must be used
after the try block only.
7. char: Java char keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold unsigned 16-bit Unicode characters
8. class: Java class keyword is used to declare a class.
9. continue: Java continue keyword is used to continue the loop. It continues the current flow of the
program and skips the remaining code at the specified condition.
10. default: Java default keyword is used to specify the default block of code in a switch statement.
11. do: Java do keyword is used in the control statement to declare a loop. It can iterate a part of the
program several times.
12. double: Java double keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold 64-bit floating-point number.
13. else: Java else keyword is used to indicate the alternative branches in an if statement.
14. enum: Java enum keyword is used to define a fixed set of constants. Enum constructors are always
private or default.
15. extends: Java extends keyword is used to indicate that a class is derived from another class or
interface.
16. final: Java final keyword is used to indicate that a variable holds a constant value. It is used with a
variable. It is used to restrict the user from updating the value of the variable.
17. finally: Java finally keyword indicates a block of code in a try-catch structure. This block is always
executed whether an exception is handled or not.
18. float: Java float keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold a 32-bit floating-point number.
19. for: Java for keyword is used to start a for loop. It is used to execute a set of instructions/functions
repeatedly when some condition becomes true. If the number of iteration is fixed, it is recommended
to use for loop.
20. if: Java if keyword tests the condition. It executes the if block if the condition is true.
21. implements: Java implements keyword is used to implement an interface.
22. import: Java import keyword makes classes and interfaces available and accessible to the current
source code.
23. instanceof: Java instanceof keyword is used to test whether the object is an instance of the specified
class or implements an interface.
24. int: Java int keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold a 32-bit signed integer.
25. interface: Java interface keyword is used to declare an interface. It can have only abstract methods.
26. long: Java long keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold a 64-bit integer.
27. native: Java native keyword is used to specify that a method is implemented in native code using JNI
(Java Native Interface).
28. new: Java new keyword is used to create new objects.
29. null: Java null keyword is used to indicate that a reference does not refer to anything. It removes the
garbage value.
30. package: Java package keyword is used to declare a Java package that includes the classes.
31. private: Java private keyword is an access modifier. It is used to indicate that a method or variable may
be accessed only in the class in which it is declared.
32. protected: Java protected keyword is an access modifier. It can be accessible within the package and
outside the package but through inheritance only. It can't be applied with the class.
33. public: Java public keyword is an access modifier. It is used to indicate that an item is accessible
anywhere. It has the widest scope among all other modifiers.
34. return: Java return keyword is used to return from a method when its execution is complete.
35. short: Java short keyword is used to declare a variable that can hold a 16-bit integer.
36. static: Java static keyword is used to indicate that a variable or method is a class method. The static
keyword in Java is mainly used for memory management.
37. strictfp: Java strictfp is used to restrict the floating-point calculations to ensure portability.
38. super: Java super keyword is a reference variable that is used to refer to parent class objects. It can be
used to invoke the immediate parent class method.
39. switch: The Java switch keyword contains a switch statement that executes code based on test value.
The switch statement tests the equality of a variable against multiple values.
40. synchronized: Java synchronized keyword is used to specify the critical sections or methods in
multithreaded code.
41. this: Java this keyword can be used to refer the current object in a method or constructor.
42. throw: The Java throw keyword is used to explicitly throw an exception. The throw keyword is mainly
used to throw custom exceptions. It is followed by an instance.
43. throws: The Java throws keyword is used to declare an exception. Checked exceptions can be
propagated with throws.
44. transient: Java transient keyword is used in serialization. If you define any data member as transient, it
will not be serialized.
45. try: Java try keyword is used to start a block of code that will be tested for exceptions. The try block
must be followed by either catch or finally block.
46. void: Java void keyword is used to specify that a method does not have a return value.
47. volatile: Java volatile keyword is used to indicate that a variable may change asynchronously.
48. while: Java while keyword is used to start a while loop. This loop iterates a part of the program several
times. If the number of iteration is not fixed, it is recommended to use the while loop.