decremented

Decremented refers to the state of a value that has been reduced by one unit from its previous value. The verb decrement means to decrease by one; the noun or adjective "decremented" indicates that such a reduction has occurred. It is commonly used in mathematics, computing, and digital electronics.

In programming, decrement operations are frequently implemented as an operator that subtracts one from a variable. In languages that support both prefix and postfix decrement, the prefix form (--x) reduces the value before it is used, while the postfix form (x--) yields the original value before performing the decrement. Many languages also offer an equivalent assignment form, such as x = x - 1 or the shorthand x -= 1. The precise behavior can vary by language, including whether the operation yields a value and how it interacts with other expressions.

In assembly and machine code, decrementing is typically implemented by a DEC instruction that subtracts one from a register or memory location and updates processor flags such as zero, sign, and overflow, while often leaving the carry flag unchanged.

Common uses include counting down in loops, iterating through arrays in reverse order, and maintaining counters that reflect remaining work or resources. Decrementing is contrasted with incrementing, which adds one to a value, and with subtraction by larger amounts.

Overall, "decremented" conveys that a quantity has been reduced by exactly one unit, as part of a broader process of iteration, accounting, or state transition.