python assignment ternary

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Ternary Operator in Python

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In this article, you’ll learn how to use the ternary operator in Python. The ternary operator in Python is simply a shorter way of writing an if and if…else statement. We’ll see its syntax along with some practical examples.

Python Ternary Operator and its Benefits

The Python ternary operator determines if a condition is true or false and then returns the appropriate value in accordance with the result. The ternary operator is useful in cases where we need to assign a value to a variable based on a simple condition, and we want to keep our code more concise — all in just one line of code. It’s particularly handy when you want to avoid writing multiple lines for a simple if-else situation.

Syntax of Ternary Operator in Python

Syntax : [on_true] if [expression] else [on_false] expression : conditional_expression | lambda_expr

Simple Method to Use Ternary Operator

In this example, we are comparing and finding the minimum number by using the ternary operator. The expression min is used to print a or b based on the given condition. For example, if a is less than b then the output is a, if a is not less than b then the output is b.

Ternary Operator Examples

Here we will see the different example to use Python Ternary Operator:

Ternary Operator in Python If-Else

Python ternary operator using tuples, python ternary operator using dictionary, python ternary operator using lambda, print in if ternary operator, limitations of python ternary operator.

Example: Using Native way

Python program to demonstrate nested ternary operator. In this example, we have used simple if-else without using ternary operator.

Example: Using Ternary Operator

In this example, we are using a nested if-else to demonstrate ternary operator. If a and b are equal then we will print a and b are equal and else if a>b then we will print a is greater than b otherwise b is greater than a.

In this example, we are using tuple s to demonstrate ternary operator. We are using tuple for selecting an item and if [a<b] is true it return 1, so element with 1 index will print else if [a<b] is false it return 0, so element with 0 index will print.

In this example, we are using Dictionary to demonstrate ternary operator. We are using tuple for selecting an item and if [a<b] is true it return 1, so element with 1 index will print else if [a<b] is false it return 0, so element with 0 index will print.

In this example, we are using Lambda to demonstrate ternary operator. We are using tuple for selecting an item and if [a<b] is true it return 1, so element with 1 index will print else if [a<b] is false it return 0, so element with 0 index will print.

In this example, we are finding the larger number among two numbers using ternary operator in python3.

Python ternary is used to write concise conditional statements but it too have some limitations.

• Readability: T ernary operator can make simple conditional expressions more concise, it can also reduce the readability of your code, especially if the condition and the expressions are complex.
• Potential for Error : Incorrect placement of parentheses, missing colons, or incorrect order of expressions can lead to syntax errors that might be harder to spot.
• Debugging : When debugging, it might be harder to inspect the values of variables involved in a complex ternary expression.
• Maintenance and Extensibility : Complex ternary expressions might become harder to maintain and extend especially when the codebase grows.
• Can’t use assignment statements: Each operand of the Python ternary operator is an  expression , not a statement, that means we can’t use assignment statements inside any of them. Otherwise, the program will throw an error.

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Python Ternary Operator: Explained With Examples

Table of Contents

Ternary Operator in Python

The syntax for ternary operator in python, 1. python ternary operator using if-else, 2. python ternary operator using tuples, 3. python ternary operator using dictionary, 4. python ternary operator using lambda, 5. direct printing using ternary operator, limitations of python ternary operator, simple weather advisory system.

Python ternary operator is a quick way of evaluating a condition to determine whether it’s true or false, returning a corresponding value. This operator shines when you want to assign a value to a variable based on a straightforward condition, enabling you to write more compact code.

It allows you to condense a simple if-else statement into a single line, making your code cleaner and more efficient, especially for simple conditional assignments.

The basic structure of the ternary operator in Python is as follows:

• condition : A boolean expression that evaluates to either true or false.
• value_if_true : The value to assign if the condition is true.
• value_if_false : The value to assign if the condition is false.

Consider a scenario where we want to determine the smaller of two numbers. Here’s how we can achieve this using the ternary operator:

Run the code using our Python Online Compiler .

Python Ternary Operator Examples

Let’s explore different ways to utilize the ternary operator:

Example without Ternary Operator:

Example with Ternary Operator:

Tuple-based Approach :

Dictionary-based Approach :

Lambda Function Approach :

Determining the Larger Number :

• Readability Concerns : Although ternary operators can streamline simple conditions, they may also complicate your code’s readability. This is particularly true for complex conditions or expressions, making it harder for others (or even yourself) to understand at a glance.
• Error Susceptibility : It’s easy to misplace parentheses, forget colons, or mix up the order of expressions within a ternary operation. Such mistakes can introduce syntax errors that are not immediately obvious, complicating debugging efforts.
• Debugging Difficulty : When dealing with intricate ternary expressions, pinpointing and evaluating the variables involved can become more challenging, potentially slowing down the debugging process.
• Maintenance Hurdles : As your project expands, maintaining and updating code that heavily relies on complex ternary expressions can become increasingly difficult. Such code may hinder future enhancements or adjustments.
• Restrictions on Assignment : The ternary operator in Python expects each segment to be an expression rather than a statement. This means assignment operations within the ternary construct are not permitted and will result in errors.

Let’s demonstrate a common mistake when attempting to use assignment within a ternary expression:

Real-World Application Example of Python Ternary Operator

Imagine a weather advisory system that checks the forecast to see if the chance of rain is above a certain threshold. If the chance of rain is high, it advises bringing an umbrella. Otherwise, it suggests enjoying the day without one.

This example will demonstrate how to use the ternary operator to make this decision concisely.

Implementation:

Explanation:

• The function umbrella_advisory takes the chance of rain as input and uses the ternary operator to immediately return a message advising whether or not to bring an umbrella.
• The condition checks if the chance_of_rain is 50% or higher. If true, it suggests bringing an umbrella; if false, it indicates that an umbrella is not necessary.

Python Ternary Operator in this Context:

• Conciseness and Clarity: The ternary operator allows for a concise expression of conditional logic, making the code easier to read and write without compromising clarity.
• Immediate Decision Making: It’s particularly useful for simple decision-making processes that depend on a single condition, as shown in this weather advisory example.

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Gaurav Karwayun is the founder and executive editor of FullStackDive . He has done Computer Science Engineering and has over 12+ Years of Experience in the software industry. He has experience working in both service and product-based companies. He has vast experience in all popular programming languages, Web technologies, DevOps, etc. Follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter .