When performing comparisons and conditionals, the ternary operator is a conditional operator that reduces the length of code. This approach can be used instead of if-else or nested if-else statements. This operator is executed in the following order: left to right, left to right, left to right, left to right, left to right, left to right, It is, without a doubt, the best case for a time-saving solution.

With its conditionals, it also generates an e-notice when it encounters a void value. It's known as a ternary operator because it has three operands: a condition, a true result, and a false result.

The term "ternary operator" refers to an operator that operates on three operands. An operand is a concept that refers to the parts of an expression that it needs. The ternary operator in PHP is the only one that needs three operands: a condition, a true result, and a false result.

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When the condition evaluates to real, the ternary operator will use its left-hand operand. This may be a string, an integer, a Boolean, or something else entirely. For so-called "false values," the right-hand operand will be used.

An empty array or string, null, an unknown or unassigned variable, and, of course, false itself are examples. The ternary operator will use its right-hand operand for both of these values.

Syntax:

(Condition) ? (Statement1) : (Statement2);

Parameters:

The expression to be evaluated that returns a boolean value is called the condition.

Statement 1: This is the statement that will be executed if the condition is valid.

Statement 2: This is the statement that will be executed if the condition is false.

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<body>

<?php

$age=19;

print ($age>=18) ? "eligible for vote" : "not eligible for vote";

?>

</body>

</html>

Explanation:

In the above code a ternary operator has been implemented on the line ($age>=18)? “eligible for vote”: ”not eligible for vote” consists of three parameters as discussed above in syntax condition 1, if $age>=18 is a conditional statement if it is true statement 1 eligible for vote will be printed if condition is not true not eligible for vote will be executed.

Output:

TernaryOperator_1 

What to Use the Ternary Operator

When we need to simplify if-else statements that simply allocate values to variables based on a condition, we use the ternary operator. The use of a ternary operator reduces the large if-else block to a single line, improving readability and simplifying the code. Quite useful for assigning variables after a form has been submitted.

Just imagine the following code written with simple if else statements as follows

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<body>

<?php

$score=40;

if ($score>=50){

echo "The result is pass" . "\n";

echo "congratulations" . "\n";

}

else{

echo "The result is Fail". "\n";

echo "Better luck next time" . "\n";

}

?>

</body>

</html>

Explanation:

In the above example, just use the simple if else statement. If the score is greater than 50 it tends to print the result as pass and congratulations. If the condition is false, it will print the statement under else as the result is fail and better luck next time.

Output:

TernaryOperator_2.

Instead of this, just use a ternary operator to reduce the coding.

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Alternative for Reducing the Code

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<body>

<?php

$score=40;

print($score>=50) ? "The result is pass congratulations" : "The result is Fail Better luck next time "

?>

</body>

</html>

Output:

TernaryOperator_3.

Advantages of Ternary Operator

  • It will shorten the code.
  • It will improve the readability of the code.
  • The code becomes more straightforward.
  • Makes basic if/else logic easier to code.
  • Instead of breaking your output building for if/else statements,you can do your if/else logic in line with output.
  • Shortens the code
  • Makes it faster and easier to manage code.

Ternary Shorthand

For fast shorthand evaluation, short ternary operator syntax can be used by omitting the middle part of the ternary operator. Elvis operatory (? ) is another name for it.

Elvis operator can be used to reduce redundancy in your situations and shorten the time it takes you to complete your assignments. It's the ternary operator, but without the second operand. If the operand is valid, it returns the first operand; otherwise, it evaluates and returns the second operand.

Syntax:

Exp1 ?: Exp2

Exp1 refers to expression1

Exp2 refers to expression2

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<body>

<?php

print $start = $start ?: 1;

?>

</body>

</html>

Output:

TernaryOperator_4.

Ifselseif Else or Ternary Operator to Compare Numbers PHP?

Both are the same but professionally it is better to choose a ternary operator.

For example we need to compare two values

$val1=10

$val2=20

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<body>

<?php

$val1=10;

$val2=20;

$da1=55000;

$output=$val1 ? $val2 : $val2 ? : $da1;

echo "The value is=",$output;

?>

</body>

</html>

Output:

TernaryOperator_5 

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Null Coalescing Operator

It replaces the ternary operator when used with the isset() function, which checks whether a variable is NULL or not and returns the first operand if the variable exists and is not NULL, otherwise the second operand is returned.The Null coalescing operator checks whether a variable is null and returns the non-null value from a pair of personalized values. The Null Coalescing operator is primarily used to prevent the object feature from returning a NULL value instead of a default optimized value. Since it does not emit E-Notice during execution, it is used to prevent exceptions and compiler errors.The execution order is from right to left. If the right side operand is not null, the return value is the right operand; if it is null, the left operand is the return value. It makes the source code easier to understand.

Syntax

(Condition) ? (Statement1) ? (Statement2);

Alternative Method:

if ( isset(Condition) ) {  

return Statement1;

} else {

return Statement2;

}

Code:

<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<body>

<?PHP

// Coalescing Operator

$num = 10;

// Use Null Coalescing Operator

print ($num) ?? "NULL";

?>

</body>

</html>

Output:

TernaryOperator_6. 

Conclusion

Using if/else and switch/case statements to evaluate conditions is an essential part of programming. If/else statements are simple to code and can be used in any language. If/else sentences are useful, but they may become excessively long. Ternary operator logic is the method of shortening your if/else structures by using "(condition)? (true return value) : (false return value)" statements.

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