Explain pls the output of this code

Question

public static void main(String[] args){
char[] test = {'a', 'b', 'j', 'l', 'm'};

System.out.println((char)((--test[4])-1));
The output is k

Answer 1

first it gets test[4] --> m

then you need to understand that char is just an encoded number in ASCII http://www.torsten-horn.de/techdocs/ascii.htm
I used that in my code to tell what letters there are: https://code.sololearn.com/cRL3AllAR3N9/#

--test[4] --> the letter 'm' in ASCII is 109. Decreased to 108 and written back into the char array because of '--', the array becomes {'a', 'b', 'j', 'l', 'l'} and the letter for further calculation is the second 'l'

'l' - 1 --> 108 - 1 --> 107

(char) 107 --> 'k'

.
nonzyro no offense but this proves you are wrong with your 'decreased the pointer, pointing it at memory containing 'l'': https://code.sololearn.com/cXbc3Hj0o2sP/#java

Answer 2

Johann Leis
Sorry, I just reread the whole thread. :(
I must've misread the question (when I saw "(char)" I saw "(char*)" and assumed it was a cast and pointer arithmetic, I didn't even notice it was a Java question) I admit I only skimmed your code and probably misread that too. I have no idea if you've edited it since, but there's nothing wrong with it whatsoever. I remember thinking, "Why's he using Java?" Anyway, since my answer's on top and very misleading, I'll delete it. I'll delete my other post too, since your code was isn't wrong.

Answer 3

nonzyro no problem; proves you're human😉
i'll delete my complains too

Answer 4

Johann Leis nonzyro Donna thankyou guys! that was helpful ☺