The JavaScript Ternary Operator

The conditional operator is a shorthand for writing conditional if...else statements.

Example

Example Code

javascript

let text = (age
 Share

## Description

The conditional operator is a shorthand for writing conditional `if...else` statements.

It is called a ternary operator because it takes three operands.

### Syntax

javascript (condition) ? expression1 : expression2 ```

Parameters

Parameter	Description
condition	Required. The condition to be tested. An expression that evaluates to `true` or `false`.
?	Required. The operator separating the condition from the expressions.
expression1	Required. The value to return if the condition is `true`.
:	Required. The operator separating the expressions.
expression2	Required. The value to return if the condition is `false`.

The conditional (ternary) operator is the only JavaScript > operator that takes three operands.

Browser Support

() ? x : y is an ES1 feature (JavaScript 1997).

It is fully supported in all browsers:


Chrome	IE	Edge	Firefox	Safari	Opera
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

★

Interactive Code Examples

JS Example 1

javascript

Try it Yourself

JavaScript syntax and algorithm demonstration.

let text = (age < 18) ?  "Minor" : "Adult";

JS Example 2

javascript

Try it Yourself

JavaScript syntax and algorithm demonstration.

let isMember = true;

let discount = isMember ? 0.2 : 0;

JS Example 3

javascript

Try it Yourself

JavaScript syntax and algorithm demonstration.

let isMember = false;

let discount = isMember ? 0.2 : 0;

Syntax

javascript

Try it Yourself

JavaScript syntax and algorithm demonstration.

(condition) ? expression1 : expression2

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