In PHP, the ternary operator is a shorthand conditional operator that lets you express simple if-else statements in a single line of code. It's called "ternary" because it takes three operands.

The syntax of the ternary operator is:

(condition) ? true expression : false expression;

• condition: The expression that is evaluated to either true or false.
• true expression: The value to be assigned if the condition is true.
• false expression: The value to be assigned if the condition is false.

Benefits of the ternary operator:

• Conciseness: It can make your code shorter and more readable compared to if-else statements.
• Simplifies code: It's useful for simple checks and assignments.
• Improves flow: It can eliminate unnecessary braces and indentation.

However, there are some limitations:

• Complexity: Nested ternary operators can become difficult to read and maintain.
• Readability: Overusing the ternary operator can make your code less clear for beginners.

Here are some tips for using the ternary operator effectively:

• Use it for simple conditions and expressions.
• Avoid nesting multiple ternary operators.
• Ensure the code remains easily understandable.

 
// Regular if-else statement
$age = 20;
if ($age >= 18) {
    $message = 'Adult';
} else {
    $message = 'Minor';
}
 
// Equivalent ternary operator
$age = 20;
$message = ($age >= 18) ? 'Adult' : 'Minor';
 
// Output
echo $message; // Adult
 

Ternary Operator in Return Statement

 
function getGreeting($timeOfDay) {
    return ($timeOfDay === 'morning') ? 'Good morning!' : 'Hello!';
}
 
echo getGreeting('morning'); // Output: Good morning!
 
 

Ternary Operator in Array Assignment

 
$score = 85;
$result = ($score >= 70) ? 'Pass' : 'Fail';
$student = ['name' => 'John', 'result' => $result];
 
print_r($student);
// Output: Array ( [name] => John [result] => Pass )
 
 

Nested Ternary Operators

 
$number = 10;
$evenOrOdd = ($number % 2 == 0) ? 'Even' : (($number % 2 == 1) ? 'Odd' : 'Invalid');
echo $evenOrOdd; // Output: Even
 
 

Assigning a default value if a variable is not set

 
$age = isset($_GET['age']) ? $_GET['age'] : 25;