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Ternary Expressions

Ternary expressions provide a compact way to choose between two values based on a condition.

Why this exists

Ternary expressions allow conditional logic within expressions, avoiding the need for full if-else blocks when assigning values.

How it works

Use the syntax condition ? true_expression : false_expression. If the condition is truthy, evaluate the true expression; otherwise, the false expression.

Examples

Basic ternary:

set age = 20
set status = age >= 18 ? "Adult" : "Minor"
print(status) // "Adult"

In calculations:

set x = 5
set result = x > 0 ? x * 2 : 0
print(result) // 10

Common mistakes

  • Using ternary for side effects (use if-else instead).
  • Forgetting parentheses for complex conditions due to operator precedence.
  • Nesting too deeply, reducing readability.