Java Ternary Operator ? :

Ternary Operator or Conditional Operator

The ternary operator is used for replacement of if-else statement

The ternary operator is combination of ? and : and takes three operands.This ? operator is also known as the conditional operator.

Syntax

expression1 ? expression2 : expression3;

How Ternary Operator works?

  • The conditional operator first evaluates the expression 1.
  • If the result of expression 1 becomes true then expression 2 is evaluated otherwise expression 3 is evaluated.

Example - Finding greatest number using if-else

class IfElseGreater
{
   public static void  main(String args[])
   {
      int first = 159;
      int second = 415;
		
      if ( first > second)
      {
         System.out.println("Greater is  "+first);
      }
      else
      {
	 System.out.println("Greater is  "+second);
      }
		
   }
}

Output

Greater is 415

Now let's see above example using Ternary Operator.

Example - Finding greatest number using Ternary Operator

class TernaryOpeGreater
{
   public static void  main(String args[])
   {
      int first = 159;
      int second = 415;
      int greater;
		
      greater = ( first > second ? first : second);
		
      System.out.println("Greater is  "+greater);
		
   }
}

Output

Greater is 415

In above example 415 > 159 becomes true hence 415 variable is stored into the greater variable.

Ternary Operator helps you to use shortened way of writing if-else statement.

Nesting of Ternary Operator

We can also write nested ternary operator statements inside another ternary statement.

Instead of storing result of the expression,there will be another ternary statement executed and it's result will be returned.

Syntax

expr 1 ? (sub-expr1 ? expr1 : expr2) : (sub-expr2 ? expr1 : expr2);

Syntax Explanation

  • First of all the expr1 is evaluated. If this expression produces true result then sub-expr1 is executed otherwise sub-expr2 is executed.
  • If sub-expr1 executed,then again based on it's result expr1 or expr2 is executed. Same thing will be followed for the sub-expr2.
  • Only one result will be returned from the given statement.

Example - Checking PIN of the debit card and again checking for the balance using Ternary operator

public class Test 
{
   public static void main(String[] args) 
   {
      String result;
      int pin=1199,balance=0;
		
      result = ((pin==1199 ? (balance>0? "Cash available":"No balance") : "Wrong PIN"));
      System.out.println("Result : "+result);
   }
}

Output

Result : No balance

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