---
title: 3.25 Operator Associativity
description: "Operator associativity determines the direction in which operators with the **same precedence** are grouped in an expression. Most binary operators associate from left to right, while unary, conditional, and assignment operators generally associate from right to left. ``` #include int…"
url: "https://edcret.in/docs/c-programming/operators-and-expressions/3-25-operator-associativity/"
updated: "2026-09-07"
category: C Programming / Operators and Expressions
---

# 3.25 Operator Associativity

Operator associativity determines the direction in which operators with the **same precedence** are grouped in an expression. Most binary operators associate from left to right, while unary, conditional, and assignment operators generally associate from right to left.

```
#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    int result;

    result = 20 / 5 * 2;

    printf("result = %dn", result);

    return 0;
}
```

### Example Output

```
result = 8
```

### Explanation

The `/` and `*` operators have the same precedence. Both associate from left to right, so the expression:

```
20 / 5 * 2
```

is grouped as:

```
(20 / 5) * 2
```

The result is therefore `8`.

Assignment operators associate from right to left. For example:

```
int a, b, c;

a = b = c = 10;
```

is grouped as:

```
a = (b = (c = 10));
```

### Operator Associativity Table

| Precedence | Operators | Associativity |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | `()` `[]` `.` `->` | Left-to-right |
| 2 | `++` `--` `+` `-` `!` `~` `sizeof` `(type)` | Right-to-left |
| 3 | `*` `/` `%` | Left-to-right |
| 4 | `+` `-` | Left-to-right |
| 5 | `<<` `>>` | Left-to-right |
| 6 | `<` `<=` `>` `>=` | Left-to-right |
| 7 | `==` `!=` | Left-to-right |
| 8 | `&` | Left-to-right |
| 9 | `^` | Left-to-right |
| 10 | `|` | Left-to-right |
| 11 | `&&` | Left-to-right |
| 12 | `||` | Left-to-right |
| 13 | `?:` | Right-to-left |
| 14 | `=` `+=` `-=` `*=` `/=` `%=` `<<=` `>>=` `&=` `^=` `|=` | Right-to-left |
| 15 | `,` | Left-to-right |

Associativity is relevant **only when operators have the same precedence**. It does not override precedence.

For example:

```
a + b * c
```

is grouped according to precedence as:

```
a + (b * c)
```

The associativity of `+` does not cause `(a + b) * c`, because `*` has higher precedence.