Ternary Operator

Overview

The ternary operator (`? :`) is a shorthand for simple if-else statements. It makes code concise when assigning a value based on a condition.

Syntax

cpp

int a = 10, b = 20;

// Syntax: condition ? value_if_true : value_if_false;
int maxVal = (a > b) ? a : b;

string status = (a >= 18) ? "Adult" : "Minor";

Common Pitfalls

Nesting ternary operators makes code incredibly hard to read and should generally be avoided.
Ensure both the true and false return values are of the same or compatible data types.

Interview Tips

The ternary operator is an expression, meaning it evaluates to a value. An if-else is a statement. This means you can use the ternary operator inline during variable initialization.

Real-World Example

Setting inline default values.

example

cpp

#include <iostream>
#include <string>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    bool isLoggedIn = true;
    
    // Inline usage
    cout << "Welcome, " << (isLoggedIn ? "User" : "Guest") << "!" << endl;
    return 0;
}

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