# - — subtraction

[Syntax and values](README.md)

## Behavior and details

The `-` between two Numbers subtracts the second from the first. This is **binary subtraction**: an operation using two values. A minus sign in front of just one value, such as `-score`, has the different job of reversing its sign.

A chain groups from left to right: `8 - 3 - 1` means `(8 - 3) - 1`, giving four. Text and Lists cannot be subtracted. Numbers and their result must be [finite](../concepts/floating-point.md): no infinity or invalid numeric value.

## Example

```pliro
# language: en
say 8 - 3 - 1
say 8 - (3 - 1)
```

## Related entries

[Syntax and values](README.md) · [Built-ins](../builtins/README.md) · [Programming guides](../guides/README.md)