C++ Academy · Lesson

Basic Operators and Type Conversion

Master arithmetic, comparison, and logical operators plus implicit and explicit type conversions.

Lesson 4 of 413 steps

Basic Operators and Type Conversion is a free C++ Academy lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 4 of 4. Any 3 lessons of this learning path are free to read in full — after that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus hands-on practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the C++ Academy learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The C++ Academy course includes 4 lessons in total.

Arithmetic Operators

The standard arithmetic operators: + - * / and modulo %. Modulo works only on integers.

int a = 17, b = 5;
std::cout << a + b << "\n";  // 22
std::cout << a - b << "\n";  // 12
std::cout << a * b << "\n";  // 85
std::cout << a / b << "\n";  // 3 (integer division)
std::cout << a % b << "\n";  // 2

Integer vs Floating Division

When both operands are integers, division truncates toward zero. Cast one operand to a floating type for a real division.

int a = 7, b = 2;
std::cout << a / b << "\n";              // 3
std::cout << static_cast<double>(a) / b; // 3.5

Increment and Decrement

++ and -- add or subtract one. Prefix (++x) increments first then returns the value. Postfix (x++) returns the original then increments.

Compound Assignment

Combine arithmetic with assignment: +=, -=, *=, /=, %=. These are shorter and often clearer.

int total = 0;
total += 5;     // total = total + 5
total *= 2;     // total = total * 2

Comparison Operators

Six comparison operators return bool: ==, !=, <, <=, >, >=.

Logical Operators

Combine boolean values with && (and), || (or), and ! (not). They short-circuit — if the result is decided early, the rest is not evaluated.

bool valid = (age >= 18) && (age < 120);
bool weekend = (day == "Sat") || (day == "Sun");

Bitwise Operators

For bit manipulation: & (and), | (or), ^ (xor), ~ (not), << (shift left), >> (shift right).

Implicit Conversions

C++ automatically converts between numeric types in many contexts — sometimes silently losing precision. Be careful with mixed-type expressions.

int i = 10;
double d = i;       // OK: int to double
int j = 3.7;        // OK but truncates to 3

static_cast: Explicit Conversion

The preferred way to convert between related types. It is checked at compile time.

double price = 9.99;
int dollars = static_cast<int>(price);  // 9

Other Casts: reinterpret_cast const_cast

Three other casts exist for special cases:

reinterpret_cast — reinterpret bit patterns (use rarely)
const_cast — remove const (use even more rarely)
dynamic_cast — runtime cast for polymorphic types

Avoid C-Style Casts

The old (int)x syntax is ambiguous — it can mean any of the four casts. Use the named cast that matches your intent.

Quick Check

What does 7 / 2 evaluate to in C++ when both operands are int?

Answer it in the interactive lesson

Recap

C++ provides arithmetic, comparison, logical, and bitwise operators. Implicit conversions can lose data — prefer static_cast for explicit conversions and avoid C-style casts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the “Basic Operators and Type Conversion” lesson free?

Yes — any 3 lessons of the C++ Academy learning path, including “Basic Operators and Type Conversion”, are free to read in full here on the web. After that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus interactive practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. The C++ Academy course includes 4 lessons in total.

What will I learn in “Basic Operators and Type Conversion”?

Master arithmetic, comparison, and logical operators plus implicit and explicit type conversions. You practise C++ Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start C++ Academy?

No prior experience is required. C++ Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 4 of 4.

How long does the “Basic Operators and Type Conversion” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this C++ Academy lesson?

Yes. Every C++ Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

Setting Up a C++ Compiler
Hello World and Build Process
Variables, Auto Type Inference and constexpr
Basic Operators and Type Conversion

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