What is the benefit of comparing constant and variable with constant on the left?

Question

Can anyone explain what is the benefit of comparing constant and variable with constant on the left e.g.

if (0 == variable)

Instead of

if (variable == 0)

To avoid accidental assignment, `if (variable = 0)`. If the constant is on the left-hand side, then it would be a syntax error: `if (0 = variable)` — Alex Shesterov, Apr 15 '16 at 21:07
Is it a coincidence that your avatar is Yoda? Anyway, compile with `-Wall` (or the equivalent for your compiler) and don't bother with this awful convention. — Fred Larson, Apr 15 '16 at 21:16

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 15 '16 at 21:07

If you say

if (variable == 0)

you are under the risk of omiting one = and saying

if (variable = 0)

which will set the variable variable to 0.

So putting 0 to the left makes it more typo-safe, because 0 = variable won't be able to set any value to the variable.

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