freeCodeCamp/guide/english/javascript/conditional-ternary-operators/index.md

title
Conditional Ternary Operators

Conditional Ternary Operators

Basic usage

The ternary operator is a compact way to write an if-else inside an expression.

const thing = (condition) ? <if true> : <if false>;

E.g.

const cappedInput = input > 50 ? 50 : input // this will cap the input at 50

Else if

You can also chain ternary operators, this way you will have an if-else if-else behaviour

<first condition> ? <value if first true>
: <second condition> ? <value if second is true>
: <fallback value>

Pro tip: As you see you can split the ternary operator on multiple lines E.g.

const wealth = housesOwned > 3 ? "rich" 
             : housesOwned > 1 ? "nothing to complain"
             : "poor"