[ajug-members] Ternary Operator - simplification or complication?

Thu Jun 1 14:25:01 EDT 2006

This is exactly why I don't like the ternary operator.

Which is cleaner to read/parse?
String action = (cond ? "Success" : ( (input == null ) ? "Edit" : "Confirm" 
) );
or
String action = null;
if (cond){
action = "Success";
}else{
if (input == null){
  action = "Edit";
}else{
  action= "Confirm";
}
}

The ternary operator takes up fewer lines. But the expanded version has a 
much less change of being misinterpreted and causing bugs. Which means less 
time for me debugging peoples code after they misuse/misinterpret. So it's 
cheaper not to use the ternary operator.

Of course, there are always uses for it. But I've seen it misused a lot more 
than properly used.

BAL

>From: "Dan Marchant" <driedtoast at gmail.com>
>Reply-To: "General AJUG membership forum (100-200 
>messages/month)"<ajug-members at ajug.org>
>To: "General AJUG membership forum (100-200 
>messages/month)"<ajug-members at ajug.org>
>Subject: Re: [ajug-members] Ternary Operator - simplification or 
>complication?
>Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 14:03:05 -0400
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>
>It has it's place.
>I use for simple conditioning when there is only 2 outcomes (you could
>get crazy had have chained ternaries for more outcomes).
>
>Example:
>
>String action = (cond ? "Success" : ( (input == null ) ? "Edit" : "Confirm" 
>) );
>
>Nested ternary operators can be a bit confusing for some.
>
>I think people should take advantage of it more for certain logic.
>
>My 2 cents.
>
>- Dan
>
>
>
>On 6/1/06, Jonathan Komorek <jonathan.komorek at benefitfocus.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>I just opened up a can of worms within our development community by 
>>stating
>>that in certain cases, I find that the Ternary Operator simplifies code.
>>I've been given the impression that I'm the last Java developer alive that
>>believes the ternary operator should ever be used. I'm interested in 
>>hearing
>>the opinions of users on this group.
>>
>>Has the ternary operator helped you? Caused you great grief? Should it 
>>even
>>be in the language?
>>
>>
>>Jonathan Komorek
>>  Development Security Officer
>>  Benefitfocus.com, Inc.
>>  (843) 849-7476 ext. 254 (Main)
>>  (843) 849-9485 (Fax)
>>  E-mail: jonathan.komorek at benefitfocus.com
>>
>>
>>
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