Java ternary operator is the only conditional operator that takes three operands. Java ternary operator is a one liner replacement for if-then-else statement and used a lot in java programming. We can use ternary operator to replace switch also as shown in below example.
The first operand in java ternary operator should be a boolean or a statement with boolean result. If the first operand is true then java ternary operator returns second operand else it returns third operand. Syntax of java ternary operator is:
result = testStatement ? value1 : value2;
If testStatement is true then value1 is assigned to result variable else value2 is assigned to result variable. Let’s see java ternary operator example in a simple java program.
package com.journaldev.util;
public class TernaryOperator {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(getMinValue(4,10));
System.out.println(getAbsoluteValue(-10));
System.out.println(invertBoolean(true));
String str = "Australia";
String data = str.contains("A") ? "Str contains 'A'" : "Str doesn't contains 'A'";
System.out.println(data);
int i = 10;
switch (i){
case 5:
System.out.println("i=5");
break;
case 10:
System.out.println("i=10");
break;
default:
System.out.println("i is not equal to 5 or 10");
}
System.out.println((i==5) ? "i=5":((i==10) ? "i=10":"i is not equal to 5 or 10"));
}
private static boolean invertBoolean(boolean b) {
return b ? false:true;
}
private static int getAbsoluteValue(int i) {
return i<0 ? -i:i;
}
private static int getMinValue(int i, int j) {
return (i<j) ? i : j;
}
}
Output of the above ternary operator java program is:
4
10
false
Str contains 'A'
i=10
i=10
As you can see that we are using java ternary operator to avoid if-then-else and switch case statements. This way we are reducing the number of lines of code in java program. That’s all for a quick roundup of ternary operator in java.
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Java and Python Developer for 20+ years, Open Source Enthusiast, Founder of https://www.askpython.com/, https://www.linuxfordevices.com/, and JournalDev.com (acquired by DigitalOcean). Passionate about writing technical articles and sharing knowledge with others. Love Java, Python, Unix and related technologies. Follow my X @PankajWebDev
Hi Pankaj, Performance wise which one is better: 1) if then … else 2) switch 3) ternary operator
- Abhi
1. mostly use switch which is more efficient 2. if you can’t use switch in some cases like non-matching stuff of strings use if… elseif…else 3.use ternary rarely in easy & simple cases eg : if (a == true) { sop(“true”); else { sop false } a = (a = true) ? “true” : “false”; don’ t use in cases like : int age = 29; if (age < 13) { System.out.println(“You are but a wee child!”); }// end if for age < 13 else if (age < 19) { System.out.println(“You are no longer a child, but a budding teenager.”); } // end else if for age < 19 else { if (age < 65) { System.out.println(“You are an adult!”); }// end if for age < 65 else { System.out.println(“You are now a senior, enjoy the good life friends!”); } // end if for nested else System.out.println(“Also, since you are over the age of 19, you deserve a drink!”); }// end of final else
- sriram.c
Switch case is better than if else in performance wise. Ternary operator is better for simple conditions.
- anil reddy
System.out.println(“You guys reason well. That’s why i believe you are programmers.”);
- Adam
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