Operator associativity with 'postfix decrement' and 'logical AND' operators in c

Question

Disclaimer: I don't code like this, I'm just trying to understand how the c language works!!!!

The output is 12.

This expression (a-- == 10 && a-- == 9) evaluates left-to-right, and a is still 10 at a-- == 10 but a is 9 for a-- == 9.

1) Is there a clear rule as to when post-increment evaluate? From this example it seems it evaluates prior to the && but after the ==. Is that because the && logical operator makes a-- == 10 a complete expression, so a is updated after it executes?

2) Also for c/c++, certain operators such as prefix decrement occur right to left so a == --a first decrements a to 9 and then compares 9 == 9. Is there a reason for why c/c++ is designed this way? I know for Java, it's the opposite (it's evaluates left to right).

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int a = 10;
    if (a-- == 10 && a-- == 9)
        printf("1");
    a = 10;
    if (a == --a)
        printf("2");
    return 0;
}

Answer 1

The logical && operator contains a sequence point between the evaluation of the first and second operand. Part of this is that any side effect (such as that performed by the -- operator) as part of the left side is complete before the right side is evaluated.

This is detailed in section 6.5.13p4 of the C standard regarding the logical AND operator:

Unlike the bitwise binary & operator, the && operator guarantees left-to-right evaluation; if the second operand is evaluated, there is a sequence point between the evaluations of the first and second operands. If the first operand compares equal to 0, the second operand is not evaluated.

In the case of this expression:

(a-- == 10 && a-- == 9)

The current value of a (10) is first compared for equality against 10. This is true, so the right side is then evaluated, but not before the side effect of decrementing a that was done on the left side. Then, the current value of a (now 9) is compared for equality against 9. This is also true, so the whole expression evaluates to true. Before the next statement is executed, the side effect of decrementing a that was done on the right side is done.

This expression however:

if (a == --a)

Involves reading and writing a in the same expression without a sequence point. This invokes undefined behavior.