Python Operator (+=) and SyntaxError

Question

Ok, what am I doing wrong?

x = 1

print x += 1

Error:

print x += 1
         ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

Or, does += not work in Python 2.7 anymore? I would swear that I have used it in the past.

Answer 1

x += 1 is an augmented assignment statement in Python.

You cannot use statements inside the print statement , that is why you get the syntax error. You can only use Expressions there.

You can do -

x = 1
x += 1
print x

Answer 2

I would recommend logically separating out what you're trying to do. This will make for cleaner code, and, more often than not, code that behaves like you actually want it to. If you want to increment x before printing it, do:

x = 1
x += 1
print(x)
>>> 2  # with x == 2

If you want to print x before incrementing it:

x = 1
print(x)
x += 1
>>> 1  # with x == 2

Hope that helps.