What determines the execution order of operators with equal priority in C++?

In C++, when operators with equal precedence appear in an expression, the execution order is determined by their binding direction, also known as associativity. Each operator has a defined associativity that dictates whether the operator is processed from left to right or from right to left.

For example, most arithmetic operators such as addition and subtraction are left associative, meaning that in an expression with multiple such operators, they are evaluated from left to right. In contrast, the assignment operator operates from right to left, indicating that the assignment is made to the left-hand operand after evaluating the right-hand expression.

Understanding this binding direction is crucial for predicting the outcome of expressions involving multiple operators of the same precedence, as it affects how the operations are grouped and executed. This is an essential aspect of operator precedence in C++ programming, allowing developers to write clear and predictable code.