How do I use the ternary operator ( ? : ) in PHP as a shorthand for "if / else"?

The ternary operator (? :) in PHP provides a compact way to write simple if-else statements in a single line. It evaluates a condition and returns one of two values based on whether the condition is true or false.

Syntax

The basic syntax of the ternary operator is −

$variable = condition ? value_if_true : value_if_false;

Basic Example

Here's how to use the ternary operator to check if a value meets a condition ?

<?php
    $value = 100;
    $result = $value >= 100 ? "Greater Than or Equal to 100" : "Less Than 100";
    echo $result;
?>

Greater Than or Equal to 100

Comparison with If-Else

The ternary operator is equivalent to a traditional if-else statement but more concise −

<?php
    $score = 85;
    
    // Using ternary operator
    $grade = $score >= 90 ? "A" : ($score >= 80 ? "B" : "C");
    echo "Ternary: " . $grade . "<br>";
    
    // Equivalent if-else statement
    if ($score >= 90) {
        $grade2 = "A";
    } elseif ($score >= 80) {
        $grade2 = "B";
    } else {
        $grade2 = "C";
    }
    echo "If-else: " . $grade2;
?>

Ternary: B
If-else: B

Nested Ternary Operators

You can nest ternary operators for multiple conditions, though readability may decrease −

<?php
    $age = 25;
    $category = $age < 18 ? "Minor" : ($age < 65 ? "Adult" : "Senior");
    echo "Age category: " . $category;
?>

Age category: Adult

Conclusion

The ternary operator is perfect for simple conditional assignments and makes code more concise. However, use it judiciously − for complex conditions, traditional if-else statements are more readable.