Since Java uses conventional infix notation for expressions it relies on the notion of precedence to determine how expressions like
12 * 5 + 10should be interpreted. The Java operations given in the preceding subsection are divided into the following precedence groups:
from highest to lowest. A higher precedence operator has greater ``binding power''. For example, the expression
prefix operators - ! multiplicative * / % additive + - relational < > >= <= equality == != logical and && logical or || conditional ? ... :
72. - 32. * 1.8is equivalent to
72. - (32. * 1.8)because * has higher precedence than infix -.
All of infix operators listed above are left-associative: when infix operators of equal precedence are chained together, the leftmost operator has precedence. For example,
72. - 30. - 12.is equivalent to
(72. - 30.) - 12.Parentheses can be used to override the built-in precedence and associativity of operators. Hence,
(72. - 32.) * 1.8equals 40*1.8. Similarly,
72. - (30. - 12.)equals
72. - 18.It is a good idea to use parentheses if you have any doubts about the precedence relationship between consecutive operators. The judicious use of parentheses makes complex expressions easier to read.