Misunderstanding Java operator precedence is a source of frequently asked questions and subtle errors. I was intrigued to learn that even the Java Language Specification says, "It is recommended that code not rely crucially on this specification." JLS §15.7 Preferring clear to clever, are there any useful guidelines in this area? Here are a number of resources on the topic: JLS Operators JLS Precedence Java Glossary Princeton Sun Tutorial University of West Florida Usenet discussion Additions or corrections welcome.