What Is += In Python

You may have seen this operation += in Python, but what does it do? In fact, what is it at all? 

Well, Python’s += operator allows you to add together 2 values and then allows you to assign the resulting value to your variable.

Pretty cool, huh? If you look online on the forums, many seem to say that it is a bit hardcore for newbies to have a go at. 

We beg to differ, and that is why we are here.

Forums won’t give you a simple answer that will get you started with practicing += in Python, but we will. 

When you use this, it might be the case that you need to add 2 values together and then apply the result to your variables, this is where this comes in useful, and you can do it. 

We will talk about how you can use this operator to do this to your values and final value, walking you through some examples as well. 

The general consensus seems to be that this is an inherently tricky thing to do, but we think differently, you can do this, and we know you can. 

What Is An Operator In Python?

Let’s start off simple, by asking what an operator is in Python.

Well, an operator is something that represents an operation that has been previously defined, they are symbols.

So, the plus symbol we see will perform the operation of adding, an asterisk will multiply, and so on. 

So, if you wanted to keep a continuing grand total of 2 numbers inside Python you would do so by using a code. 

Say if a = 10, then you showed a= a + 7.5, then you were to print(a) your code would return as being 17.5, you see you apply the value of 10 to a, and 75 to a ‘b’ variable, when you add a and b together, then print the result this is what happens. 

It is basically just like using a system to do algebra for you.

Okay, it’s a bit more complex to learn overall than the algebra you used in school, but the premise is very similar, and typically, you could even apply that here. 

So, if you had good grades in algebra as a kid, python might be something you can do well with! 

Understanding The Python += Operator

Okay, so this is what we are here for. Now you understand the basic premise, it’s time to understand the += operation in Python. 

The += operation adds together 2 total values  and then applies a value to your variable.

This operation is then called an ‘addition assignment operator’.

It is usually applied to add together these values to a countered variable which will track how often a specific thing has happened. 

So, if you use this operator, then two numbers will be added together and the resulting value will be assigned to a particular variable. 

The syntax used for doing so is also pretty simple: “variable_name+= value”.

The overall value of whatever variable you need to specify has to be one of these two; a number, or a python string.

Numbers could be integers, or even at floating-point value. 

If you wanted to say that it was of string value, then this will come after the = sign, and it will eventually be applied to the finale of the value that you have stored for the variable of which you have specified. 

If you were to say it was a number based value, then two total numbers would be applied. 

To better explain how this works, we will give you a couple of examples because explaining it just sounds overcomplicated, when really it is not. 

Example Of The Python += Operator

Say you wanted a continuing total of numbers, you could do this using the += operator. Thus, using our 10 and 7.5 numbers earlier, then this would be 

a= 10. 

a+= 7.5 and then you print(a), this will be 17.5. This function is a bit more typical of Python than the earlier version we showed you. 

Of course, you could also go the basic algebraic route we showed you and just use the + symbol to add together the values and have the = sign to give the variable value. 

But, instead we focus on a variable which we call ‘a’, this stores a value of 10, and then we make use of the += operation to apply 7.5 to this variable.

And when we print it, it returns a value of 17.5. 

As you can see, it is not as complicated as they say on all those forums, instead it just requires a bit of algebra. 

If you use the addition assignment operator to do this it is basically just like writing that a equals a plus 7.5, and still the outcome is the same, but this is just much simpler! 

Understanding Other Python Operators

Python has its own programming language which provides you with a whole load of different assignment operators just like this one.

There are also membership operators as well, identify operators and comparison operators are also offered too. 

However, assignment operators are there for a more mathematical purpose. They will assign your result’s value to your variable. 

You can also get subtraction operators (-=), division, (/=), multiplication (*=), and even power operators (**). 

Python is basically there giving you these operators to do your math for you in a way, saving you that hardcore math headache! 

To Conclude

Overall, the += operation in python is basically just a math command that helps you to keep a running record of your variable as you go along.

It is simple and easy, and saves you time doing math in your head. 

It kind of does the hard work for you, and once you understand how this works, it is easy enough to implement it where needed. 

It’s not as difficult or complicated as it seems at all!