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pythonevaluationoperator-precedence

Why does 1+++2 = 3?

How does Python evaluate the expression 1+++2?

How many ever + I put in between, it is printing 3 as the answer. Please can anyone explain this behavior

And for 1--2 it is printing 3 and for 1---2 it is printing -1

Solution

  • Your expression is the same as:

    1+(+(+2))

    Any numeric expression can be preceded by - to make it negative, or + to do nothing (the option is present for symmetry). With negative signs:

    1-(-(2)) = 1-(-2)
         = 1+2
         = 3

    and

    1-(-(-2)) = 1-(2)
          = -1

    I see you clarified your question to say that you come from a C background. In Python, there are no increment operators like ++ and -- in C, which was probably the source of your confusion. To increment or decrement a variable i or j in Python use this style:

    i += 1
j -= 1