C: What is the difference between ++i and i++?

Question

In C, what is the difference between using ++i and i++, and which should be used in the incrementation block of a for loop?

Answer 1

i++ is known as Post Increment whereas ++i is called Pre Increment.

i++

i++ is post increment because it increments i's value by 1 after the operation is over.

Lets see the following example:

int i = 1, j;
j = i++;

Here value of j = 1 but i = 2. Here value of i will be assigned to j first then i will be incremented.

++i

++i is pre increment because it increments i's value by 1 before the operation. It means j = i; will execute after i++.

Lets see the following example:

int i = 1, j;
j = ++i;

Here value of j = 2 but i = 2. Here value of i will be assigned to j after the i incremention of i. Similarly ++i will be executed before j=i;.

For your question which should be used in the incrementation block of a for loop? the answer is, you can use any one.. doesn't matter. It will execute your for loop same no. of times.

for(i=0; i<5; i++)
   printf("%d ",i);

And

for(i=0; i<5; ++i)
   printf("%d ",i);

Both the loops will produce same output. ie 0 1 2 3 4.

It only matters where you are using it.

for(i = 0; i<5;)
    printf("%d ",++i);

In this case output will be 1 2 3 4 5.