Is there a performance difference between i++ and ++i in C++?

Question

We have the question is there a performance difference between i++ and ++i in C?

What's the answer for C++?

Answer 1

[Executive Summary: Use ++i if you don't have a specific reason to use i++.]

For C++, the answer is a bit more complicated.

If i is a simple type (not an instance of a C++ class), then the answer given for C ("No there is no performance difference") holds, since the compiler is generating the code.

However, if i is an instance of a C++ class, then i++ and ++i are making calls to one of the operator++ functions. Here's a standard pair of these functions:

Foo& Foo::operator++()   // called for ++i
{
    this->data += 1;
    return *this;
}

Foo Foo::operator++(int ignored_dummy_value)   // called for i++
{
    Foo tmp(*this);   // variable "tmp" cannot be optimized away by the compiler
    ++(*this);
    return tmp;
}

Since the compiler isn't generating code, but just calling an operator++ function, there is no way to optimize away the tmp variable and its associated copy constructor. If the copy constructor is expensive, then this can have a significant performance impact.