5.9.2 Self & prefix operators

As in C, each of the arithmetic operators +, -, *, /, %, and ^ can be used as a self operator. The prefix operators ++ (increment by one) and -- (decrement by one) are also defined. For example,

int i=1;
i += 2;
int j=++i;

is equivalent to the code

int i=1;
i=i+2;
int j=i=i+1;

However, postfix operators like i++ and i-- are not defined (because of the inherent ambiguities that would arise with the -- path-joining operator). In the rare instances where i++ and i-- are really needed, one can substitute the expressions (++i-1) and (--i+1), respectively.