Question

What happens (behind the curtains) when this is executed?

int x = 7;
x = x++;

That is, when a variable is post incremented and assigned to itself in one statement? I compiled and executed this. x is still 7 even after the entire statement. In my book, it says that x is incremented!

Answer 1

x does get incremented. But you are assigning the old value of x back into itself.

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x = x++;

1. x++ increments x and returns its old value.
2. x = assigns the old value back to itself.

So in the end, x gets assigned back to its initial value.