Ternary Conditional Operator

Python does have a ternary conditional operator, which allows you to write a concise one-liner for simple conditional expressions.

result_if_true if condition else result_if_false

Let's explore how to use the ternary conditional operator in Python.

Syntax

The syntax of the ternary conditional operator is straightforward. It consists of three parts:

1. The condition: This is the expression that evaluates to either True or False.
2. The result_if_true: This is the value returned if the condition is True.
3. The result_if_false: This is the value returned if the condition is False.

Example 1: Basic Usage

Here's a simple example to illustrate the basic usage of the ternary conditional operator:

x = 10
message = "x is greater than 5" if x > 5 else "x is less than or equal to 5"
print(message)

Output:

x is greater than 5

In this example, if the condition x > 5 is True, the value "x is greater than 5" will be assigned to the variable message. Otherwise, the value "x is less than or equal to 5" will be assigned.

Example 2: Using Ternary Operator with Functions

The ternary conditional operator is often used to call functions conditionally:

def get_status(is_logged_in):
    return "User is logged in" if is_logged_in else "User is not logged in"

logged_in = True
print(get_status(logged_in))

logged_in = False
print(get_status(logged_in))

Output:

User is logged in
User is not logged in

In this example, the get_status() function takes a boolean parameter is_logged_in. If is_logged_in is True, it returns the message "User is logged in," otherwise it returns "User is not logged in."

Example 3: Nesting Ternary Operators

You can also nest ternary operators for more complex conditions. However, be cautious as excessive nesting can reduce code readability.

num = 15
message = "even" if num % 2 == 0 else "odd" if num % 3 == 0 else "neither even nor odd"
print(f"{num} is {message}.")

Output:

15 is odd.

In this example, the ternary operators are nested to check if num is even, odd, or neither even nor odd.