Autodecrement

/ˌɔːtəˈdɛkrəmənt/ noun

Definition

In programming, an operation that automatically reduces a value by a fixed amount, typically one, without manual instruction each time.

Etymology

From auto- (self/automatic) + decrement (from Latin 'decrementum,' reduction). This computer science term was created in the 20th century to describe automatic value reduction.

Kelly Says

Autodecrement is one of programming's most elegant shortcuts—the operator '--' literally tells a computer to automatically subtract 1, which seems tiny but saves millions of keystrokes annually across the world's code, showing how tiny efficiencies multiply enormously.

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