How to Shorten an If-Else Statement in Java

The if-statement may not always look elegant, but Java provides a faster and more convenient way to check conditions. It is called the ternary operator, and it has the following syntax:

condition ? expression_for_true : expression_for_false

First, we define a condition, such as 10 > 5, followed by a question mark ?. If the condition is true, the true expression is executed, for example System.out.println("That's true");. If the condition is false, the false expression runs instead, such as System.out.println("That's not true");.

Let’s look at a more practical example:

Main.java


              12345678
            
package com.example;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
      	System.out.println(10 > 5 ? "That's true" : "That's false");
        System.out.println(5 > 6 ? "That's true" : "That's false");
    }
}

You may have noticed that the ternary operator is used inside the System.out.println() statement. This is its main advantage—it helps reduce the amount of code, especially in output statements.

The ternary operator can also be used when initializing or returning values. You’ll learn more about returning values in the next section when studying methods.

Here’s an example of using the ternary operator during initialization:

Main.java


              12345678910
            
package com.example;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        final int a = 10 > 2 ? 5 : 2;
        final int b = 10 < 2 ? 5 : 2;
        System.out.println("Variable 'a' has value: " + a);
        System.out.println("Variable 'b' has value: " + b);
    }
}

Below is an example code where the ternary operator is replaced with a regular if-statement to help you better understand how it works:

Main.java


              1234567891011121314151617181920
            
package com.example;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int a = 0;
        int b = 0;
        if (10 > 2) {
            a = 5;
        } else {
            a = 2;
        }
        if (10 < 2) {
            b = 5;
        } else {
            b = 2;
        }
        System.out.println("Variable 'a' has value: " + a);
        System.out.println("Variable 'b' has value: " + b);
    }
}

The result is the same, but you can see how much space we save by using the ternary operator.

Task

Swipe to start coding

Write a code that prints "The string contains Florida" if the string contains the word Florida, or "Florida is not found" if it does not.
Use the ternary operator to practice with it.

Solution

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Section 1. Chapter 6

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How to Shorten an If-Else Statement in Java

The if-statement may not always look elegant, but Java provides a faster and more convenient way to check conditions. It is called the ternary operator, and it has the following syntax:

condition ? expression_for_true : expression_for_false

Let’s look at a more practical example:

Main.java


              12345678
            
package com.example;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
      	System.out.println(10 > 5 ? "That's true" : "That's false");
        System.out.println(5 > 6 ? "That's true" : "That's false");
    }
}

You may have noticed that the ternary operator is used inside the System.out.println() statement. This is its main advantage—it helps reduce the amount of code, especially in output statements.

The ternary operator can also be used when initializing or returning values. You’ll learn more about returning values in the next section when studying methods.

Here’s an example of using the ternary operator during initialization:

Main.java


              12345678910
            
package com.example;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        final int a = 10 > 2 ? 5 : 2;
        final int b = 10 < 2 ? 5 : 2;
        System.out.println("Variable 'a' has value: " + a);
        System.out.println("Variable 'b' has value: " + b);
    }
}

Below is an example code where the ternary operator is replaced with a regular if-statement to help you better understand how it works:

Main.java


              1234567891011121314151617181920
            
package com.example;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int a = 0;
        int b = 0;
        if (10 > 2) {
            a = 5;
        } else {
            a = 2;
        }
        if (10 < 2) {
            b = 5;
        } else {
            b = 2;
        }
        System.out.println("Variable 'a' has value: " + a);
        System.out.println("Variable 'b' has value: " + b);
    }
}

The result is the same, but you can see how much space we save by using the ternary operator.

Task

Swipe to start coding

Write a code that prints "The string contains Florida" if the string contains the word Florida, or "Florida is not found" if it does not.
Use the ternary operator to practice with it.

Solution

Switch to desktop for real-world practiceContinue from where you are using one of the options below

Everything was clear?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 1. Chapter 6

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Ternary Operator

How to Shorten an If-Else Statement in Java

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Ternary Operator

How to Shorten an If-Else Statement in Java

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