What does the increment operator (++) do in Java?

The increment operator (++) in Java is a unary operator that increases the value of a variable by one. This operator is commonly used in loops and iterations to increment a counter or to access elements in a collection. When you apply the increment operator to a variable, it effectively performs an addition of one to that variable's current value.

For example, if you have an integer variable count with a value of 5, using the increment operator count++ will change its value to 6. This can be done in both prefix form (where ++ is placed before the variable, ++count) and postfix form (where ++ is placed after the variable, count++), although the timing of when the increment occurs relative to the expression evaluation differs slightly between the two.

Understanding the use of the increment operator is essential for managing variable values in programming, especially in loops where maintaining a running total or index is crucial for controlling the loop's progression and ensuring proper execution of tasks.