For loop using i++ and ++i

[rhexis]

Okay, this has been bothering me for the longest time possible.

I'm not exactly a new to java, and I understand the post and pre increment, but this for loop thing has been bothering me like forever.

public class Testing {

	public static void main(String[] args) {
		for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
			int k = i;
			System.out.println(k);
		}
	}
}

Okay, so i++ returns the value before it is incremented, right?

So basically,

1) I declare i = 0. i(0) is < 2, so I enter the for loop.
2) k = i(0)
3) I print out 0.
4) i++;

Shouldn't i still be a 0? Since it returns the value before it is incremented? Wow, I can't believe I'm so bothered by this, but I'll be grateful if anyone could enlighten me.

[KevinWorkman]

You aren't using the value returned by the ++ operator at all. Try something more like this:

int i = 0;
while(i < 10){
   System.out.println("i before i++ is: " + i);
   System.out.println(i++);
   System.out.println("i after i++, before ++i is: " + i);
   System.out.println(++i);
   System.out.println("i after ++i is: " + i);

}

[rhexis]

Oh, I see. That explains it. Because I thought that when you are comparing i<2, you were using the return value of i++; Thanks for your code. I'll read it up later. :)

[KevinWorkman]

Oh, I see. That explains it. Because I thought that when you are comparing i<2, you were using the return value of i++; Thanks for your code. I'll read it up later. :)

No. The increment expression is invoked after each iteration of the loop. Please read this: The for Statement (The Java™ Tutorials > Learning the Java Language > Language Basics)