---
title: 3.2 Increment Operator
description: "The increment operator `++` increases the value of an operand by `1`. It can be used as a prefix or postfix operator. ``` #include int main() { int number = 5; number++; printf(\"number = %d\\n\", number); return 0; } ```…"
url: "https://edcret.in/docs/c-programming/operators-and-expressions/3-2-increment-operator/"
updated: "2026-09-07"
category: C Programming / Operators and Expressions
---

# 3.2 Increment Operator

The increment operator `++` increases the value of an operand by `1`. It can be used as a prefix or postfix operator.

```
#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    int number = 5;

    number++;

    printf("number = %d\n", number);

    return 0;
}
```

### Example Output

```
number = 6
```

### Explanation

The increment operator is applied to `number`:

```
number++;
```

This increases its value from `5` to `6`.

The increment operator can be written in two forms:

```
++number;
number++;
```

Both forms increase the operand by `1`. The difference between prefix and postfix forms becomes relevant when the increment operation is part of a larger expression.