Conditional operator (Ternary) in c

Conditional (Ternary) Operators in C

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Conditional (Ternary) Operators


2. Syntax of Ternary Operator


3. Working Principle


4. Examples and Explanation
   
   
   
   • Example 1: Basic Ternary Operator
   
   
   • Example 2: Nested Ternary Operator
   
   
   • Example 3: Using Ternary Operator for Assignments
   
   
   
   


5. Advantages of Ternary Operators


6. Conclusion

1. Introduction to Conditional (Ternary) Operators

Conditional operators, also known as ternary operators, are special operators in C that provide a concise way to write conditional expressions. Unlike the if-else statement, which is used for decision making, the ternary operator allows you to write compact, one-line conditional expressions.

The ternary operator takes three operands: a condition, an expression to evaluate if the condition is true, and an expression to evaluate if the condition is false. The syntax for the ternary operator is:

2. Syntax of Ternary Operator

condition ? expression_if_true : expression_if_false;

3. Working Principle

The ternary operator works by evaluating the condition first. If the condition is true, the expression on the left side of the colon (:) is executed; otherwise, the expression on the right side is executed.

4. Examples and Explanation

Example 1: Basic Ternary Operator

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int a = 10, b = 20;
    int max = (a > b) ? a : b;

    printf("The maximum of %d and %d is %d\n", a, b, max);
    return 0;
}

Explanation: In this example, the condition (a > b) is checked. If a is greater than b, the value of a is assigned to max; otherwise, the value of b is assigned to max.

Example 2: Nested Ternary Operator

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int num = 15;
    char* result = (num % 2 == 0) ? "even" : ((num > 0) ? "positive" : "negative");

    printf("The number is %s\n", result);
    return 0;
}

Explanation: In this example, the ternary operator is used to determine whether the number is "even", "positive", or "negative" based on the value of num.

Example 3: Using Ternary Operator for Assignments

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int marks = 85;
    char grade = (marks >= 60) ? 'A' : 'B';

    printf("The grade is %c\n", grade);
    return 0;
}

Explanation: In this example, the grade is assigned based on the marks. If marks are greater than or equal to 60, the grade is 'A'; otherwise, it is 'B'.

5. Advantages of Ternary Operators

The ternary operator offers several advantages:

• It provides a concise way to write simple conditional expressions.


• It can make code easier to read and understand, especially for one-line conditions.


• It is useful for simplifying code in cases where an if-else statement would make the code more verbose.

6. Conclusion

Conditional (Ternary) Operators in C are powerful tools for writing compact and efficient conditional expressions. They provide a concise way to perform simple conditional checks and assignments. However, it is important to use them judiciously to ensure code readability and maintainability.

Remember to practice using the ternary operator in different scenarios to become proficient in its usage.