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Using If/Else Ternary Operators

Using If/Else Ternary Operators

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jamillion

29 Nov, 2008 - 02:18 AM

Post #1

A ternary operator can be used as a slightly faster, cleaner way to write simple if/else statements.

Let's take a basic if/else statement...

CODE

if ($apple == "fresh") {
print "Yum yum! This apple is tasty.";
} else {
print "Yuck! This apple tastes awful!";
}

The above statement works like this:

If $apple is fresh, print "Yum yum! This cake is tasty.". If it's not fresh, print "Yuck! This cake tastes awful!".

Using a ternary operator we can rewrite this statement in a much simpler form.

We would write it like:

CODE

$message = ($apple == "fresh") ? "Yum yum! This apple is tasty." : "Yuck! This apple tastes awful!";
print $message;

In case you're not sure how that works, there are 3 parts to the ternary assignment:

$variable = condition ? if true : if false

The part to the left of the ? is the condition we're testing.
The part between the ? and the : is what happens if the condition is true.
The part after the : is what happens if the condition is false.

Hopefully that makes sense and you can now start saving a bit of time by using ternary operators in your PHP scripting!

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didgy58

5 Dec, 2008 - 08:59 AM

Post #2

just a quick question out of interest to make sure i understand this, in the second if statment you have written you have

CODE

$message = ($apple = "fresh") ? "Yum yum! This apple is tasty." : "Yuck! This apple tastes awful!"

you are comparing apple with a single = is this correct? or should it still be a == as i always thought that = is setting a variable?

Valek

7 Dec, 2008 - 07:51 PM

Post #3

It should actually be $apple == "fresh", otherwise it would set $apple's value to "fresh" and return true, as it would otherwise.

jamillion

9 Jan, 2009 - 11:13 AM

Post #4

QUOTE(didgy58 @ 5 Dec, 2008 - 08:59 AM)

just a quick question out of interest to make sure i understand this, in the second if statment you have written you have

CODE

$message = ($apple = "fresh") ? "Yum yum! This apple is tasty." : "Yuck! This apple tastes awful!"

you are comparing apple with a single = is this correct? or should it still be a == as i always thought that = is setting a variable?

Yes you are right sorry for making that mistake it was silly and basic yet would make the whole script blow up in your face

clickfanatic

11 Jan, 2009 - 04:41 AM

Post #5

Im a php newbie and this indeed it very useful. Though I suggest the author to make the proper correction to the tutorial. Anyways, thank you for this tutorial.