Operator precedence is a fundamental concept in programming and mathematics that dictates the order in which operations are performed in expressions. Understanding operator precedence is crucial for writing clear and correct code, as it helps in predicting how an expression will be evaluated.

In most programming languages, operators are divided into several categories, such as arithmetic, relational, logical, and assignment operators. Each category has a specific precedence level, which determines the order of evaluation when multiple operators are present in an expression. Operators with higher precedence are evaluated before those with lower precedence. For instance, multiplication and division have higher precedence than addition and subtraction.

Consider the expression 3 + 5 * 2. Due to operator precedence, the multiplication is performed first, resulting in 3 + 10, which then evaluates to 13. Parentheses can be used to override default precedence, allowing developers to explicitly define the desired order of operations. Understanding and utilizing operator precedence effectively can prevent logical errors and enhance code readability.