postfixlike

Postfixlike is an informal term used to describe systems, notations, or language features that resemble postfix (also known as Reverse Polish) structure. It denotes arrangements in which operators or modifiers appear after the operands they act upon, rather than before (prefix) or between operands (infix). The label is not standardized and may be used across computing and linguistics to indicate a postfix-shaped design pattern rather than a formal taxonomy.

In computing, postfix-like notation is exemplified by fully postfix languages such as Forth and PostScript, and by calculators and expression evaluators that rely on a stack to apply operators after operands are supplied. The term also covers languages that primarily use infix syntax but expose postfix operators, such as post-increment or post-decrement constructs (for example i++ in C-like languages).

Design implications include parsing simplicity for postfix forms on a stack-based evaluator but potential readability challenges for users accustomed to infix syntax. Postfixlike systems often enable concise expressions and efficient evaluation, at the cost of a steeper learning curve and different debugging practices. The concept is mainly used as a descriptive label in discussions about syntax design, language ergonomics, and compatibility concerns.