JS-047
Educational JavaScript lesson graphic for Ternary Operator: Learn to use the ternary operator as a short form of if...else
Beginner4 min~4 min read#ternary#conditional#if-else

Ternary Operator

A short form of if...else

Goal

Learn to use the ternary operator as a short form of if...else.

Explanation

  • The ternary operator lets you choose one of two values.
  • It has three parts: a condition, a value for true, and a value for false.
  • Its syntax is: condition ? value1 : value2.
  • If the condition is true, the first value is returned.
  • If the condition is false, the second value is returned.

Analogy

Imagine a question with two possible answers. If the answer is yes, you get one result; if it is no, you get the other.

Code

let result = isAdult ? "Adult" : "Child";

console.log(result);

Result: Adult

Common mistake

Beginners confuse the order of the parts. The result for true always follows ?, and the result for false follows :.

Remember

  • ✦ The ternary operator is a short form of if...else.
  • ✦ ? introduces the result for true.
  • ✦ : introduces the result for false.

Quick Quiz

What does true ? "Yes" : "No" return?

Resources