Is there an equivalent of C’s “?:” ternary operator in Python?

Yes, we can work around C Language’s ternary operator in Python as well i.e. a similar way do exist. Let us first see an example of C Language’s ternary operator −

Example

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {

   int x = 10;
   int y;

   y = (x == 1) ? 20: 30;
   printf( "Value of y = %d\n", y );

   y = (x == 10) ? 20: 30;
   printf( "Value of y = %d\n", y );
}

Output

Value of y = 30
Value of y = 20

There are many operators in Python: Arithmetic, Assignment, Logical, Bitwise, Membership, Identity, etc. The task accomplished above by ternary in C language can be achieved by a logical operator.

Before Python 2.5, programmers worked around the following logical operator syntax to get the same work done. However this is considered incorrect and usage as it fails when on_safe is having a false Boolean −

[expression] and [on_true] or [on_false]

Therefore, after Python 2.5 the following form of ternary operator introduced to ease the task of programmers.

Syntax

Let us see the syntax −

[on_true] if [expression] else [on_false]

Example

Let us now see an example of implementing ternary operator in Python −

x = 20
y = 10
res = x if x < y else y
print(res)

Output

10

Example

Here’s an example −

x = 50
y = 10
res = x if x > y else y
print(res)

Output

50

AmitDiwan

Updated on: 19-Sep-2022

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