assignments

see also operators

■ Multiple assignments, which run from right to left, are OK. i.e.

int a,b,c,d;

int x = 2;

a = b = c = d = x/2; Here a, b, c and d all become 1;

■ Multiple assignments are always evaluated from left to right, but with all variables taking on the end (right-hand) value. i.e.

In myarray[ a + d ] = a = b = c = d = n/2; due to the left-to-right evaluation order, the original values of the variables [ a + d ] would be used for the initial array indexing. They wouldn't be changed by the statement until later, after they were used to locate the array element myarray[ a + d ].

■ Since conditional operators have higher precedence than assignment operators, the following mix works: if ( boolean = int == int ) i.e.

boolean b = false;

int x = 2;

int y = 2;

if ( b = x == y ) returns true while assigning true to b.

■ Assigning something using one equals sign, in an otherwise-boolean-looking expression which should have two = = signs, just returns the actual result of the assignment. It doesn't return a true boolean result. i.e.

String a ="A";

String b = "B";

System.out.print( a = b ); prints B but

System.out.print( a == b ); will print false.

■ Direct primitive boolean variable assignments can be made using the single equals sign ( = ).

They make the assignment and then they always return the right hand boolean value. i.e.

( anybooleantrue = anybooleantrue ) always returns true

( anybooleanfalse = anybooleanfalse ) always returns false

( anybooleantrue = anybooleanfalse ) always returns false

( anybooleanfalse = anybooleantrue ) always returns true

( anybooleantrue = true ) always returns true

( anybooleantrue = false ) always returns false

( anybooleanfalse = true ) always returns true

( anybooleanfalse = false ) always returns false

■ You cannot use assignment against the final primitive values true and false themselves. i.e.

( true = true ) or ( true = anybooleanfalse ) will not compile.