python assignment ternary operator

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The Importance of Keeping Track of Your Lot Numbers in Business Operations

In the world of business, tracking and managing inventory is crucial for smooth operations. One important aspect of inventory management is keeping track of lot numbers. Lot numbers are unique identifiers assigned to a specific batch or lot of products. They play a significant role in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, manufacturing, and more. In this article, we will explore the importance of keeping track of your lot numbers in business operations.

Ensuring Product Traceability

Product traceability is vital for businesses across different industries. Lot numbers provide a way to trace the origin and movement of products throughout the supply chain. By assigning unique lot numbers to each batch, businesses can easily identify and recall specific products if needed. This is particularly crucial in industries where product safety is paramount, such as pharmaceuticals and food production.

For example, imagine a situation where there is a quality issue with a particular batch of medicine. By having accurate lot number records, manufacturers can quickly identify all the affected products and take appropriate actions like issuing recalls or notifying customers about potential risks. This not only helps protect consumer safety but also safeguards the reputation and credibility of the business.

Enhancing Inventory Management

Efficient inventory management is essential for businesses to avoid overstocking or running out of stock when it matters most. Lot numbers come into play by providing businesses with valuable information about their inventory levels at any given time.

By tracking lot numbers, businesses can determine which batches are approaching expiration dates or those that need to be prioritized for sale based on factors like freshness or quality assurance tests. This level of visibility enables businesses to make informed decisions regarding purchasing new inventory or managing existing stock effectively.

Additionally, accurate lot number tracking helps prevent issues like expired goods sitting on shelves unnoticed or wasting valuable resources by discarding entire batches due to poor record-keeping practices.

Meeting Regulatory Compliance

In many industries, regulatory compliance is a non-negotiable requirement. Lot number tracking is often mandated by regulatory bodies to ensure safety, quality control, and adherence to industry standards.

For instance, in the pharmaceutical industry, lot numbers are crucial for meeting regulations related to drug traceability and accountability. By keeping accurate records of lot numbers, pharmaceutical manufacturers can demonstrate compliance with regulations such as the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) in the United States or the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines internationally.

Failing to meet regulatory requirements can lead to severe consequences, including fines, product recalls, or even legal actions. Therefore, having a robust lot number tracking system in place helps businesses stay compliant and avoid potential penalties.

Building Customer Trust

In today’s competitive business landscape, customer trust is more important than ever. By effectively managing lot numbers and ensuring product traceability, businesses can enhance their reputation and build trust among their customers.

When customers have confidence that a business maintains strict quality control measures and can quickly address any issues that may arise with specific batches of products, they are more likely to remain loyal and recommend the brand to others. Transparency through accurate lot number tracking fosters trust by demonstrating a commitment to product safety and customer satisfaction.

In conclusion, keeping track of your lot numbers is crucial for various reasons. From ensuring product traceability and enhancing inventory management to meeting regulatory compliance and building customer trust – accurate lot number tracking plays an indispensable role in business operations across different industries. Implementing effective systems and processes for managing lot numbers not only ensures smooth operations but also helps businesses thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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How to Do Ternary Operator Assignment in Python

Many programming languages, including Python, have a ternary conditional operator, which is most often used for conditional variable assignment. To illustrate, consider this code:

That’s very clear, but it takes four lines of code to assign a value to game_type .

The syntax for the ternary operator in Python is:

Using that syntax, here is how we would rewrite the code above using Python’s ternary operator:

It's still pretty clear, but much shorter. Note that the expression could be any type of expression, including a function call, that returns a value that evaluates to True or False .

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Python Ternary Operator: How and Why You Should Use It

Writing concise, practical, organized, and intelligible code should be a top priority for any Python developer. Enter, the Python ternary operator.

What is this? I hear you ask. Well, you can use the ternary operator to test a condition and then execute a conditional assignment with only one line of code. And why is this so great? Well, this means we can replace those ever-popular if-else statements with a quicker and more practical way to code conditional assignments.

Now don’t get me wrong, we still need if-else statements (check out our comprehensive guide and Python cheat sheet for the best way to use conditional statements). But, it’s always good practice to make your code more Pythonic when there’s a simpler way to get the same result, and that’s exactly what you get with the ternary operator. 

• Why Use the Python Ternary Operator?

Ternary operators (also known as conditional operators) in Python perform evaluations and assignments after checking whether a given condition is true or false. This means that the ternary operator is a bit like a simplified, one-line if-else statement. Cool, right?

When used correctly, this operator reduces code size and improves readability .

Ternary Operator Syntax

A ternary operator takes three operands: 

• condition:  A Boolean expression that evaluates to true or false
• true_value:  A value or expression to be assigned if the condition evaluates to true
• false_value:  A value or expression to be assigned if the condition evaluates to false

This is how it should look when we put it all together:

So, this means that the variable "var" on the left side of the assignment operator (=), will be assigned either:

• true_value if the Boolean expression evaluates to true
• false_value if the Boolean expression evaluates to false
• How to Use the Ternary Operator Instead of If-Else

To better understand how we replace an if-else statement with the ternary operator in Python, let’s write a simple program with each approach. In this first example, we’ll assume the user enters an integer number when prompted, and we’ll start with the familiar if-else.

Program Using an If-Else Statement

Here’s what we get when the user enters 22 at the input prompt:

In this example, the if-else statement assigns “Yes, you are old enough to watch this movie!” to the movie_acess variable if the user enters an age that is greater than or equal to 18, otherwise, it assigns "Sorry, you aren't old enough to watch this movie yet!”. Finally, we use an f-string to print out the result to the screen.

Now, let's use the ternary operator syntax to make the program much more concise.

Program Using a Ternary Operator

In this version of the program, the variable that receives the result of the conditional statement (movie_access) is to the left of the assignment operator (=).

The ternary operator evaluates the condition:

If the condition evaluates to true, the program assigns “Yes, you are old enough to watch this movie!” to movie_access, else it assigns “Sorry, you aren't old enough to watch this movie yet!”.

Let’s take a look at another example that uses the Python ternary operator and if-else to achieve the same goal. This time, we’ll write a simple Python code snippet to check whether a given integer is even or odd.

In this program, we’ve used a ternary operator and an if-else statement block to determine whether the given integer produces a zero remainder when using modulo divide by 2 (if you’re unfamiliar with this operator, take a look at our cheat sheet). If the remainder is zero, we have an even number, otherwise, we have an odd number. 

Right away, we can tell what the if-else statement will do after evaluating the condition. With the ternary operator snippet, we can see the following:

• "Even" is assigned to msg if the condition (given_int % 2 == 0) is true
• "Odd" is assigned to msg if the condition (given_int % 2 == 0) is false

And, as we’ve set the given integer to an even number, the program will print “Even” to the screen. 

So, we can see again that a ternary conditional statement is a much cleaner and more concise way to achieve the same outcome as an if-else statement. We simply evaluate the ternary expression from left to right, then assign the return value for the true or false condition.

• Key Considerations for Python Ternary Statements

The ternary operator is not always suitable to replace if-else in your code.

If for example, we have more than two conditional branches with an if-elif-else statement, we can’t replace this with a single ternary operator. The clue here is in the name, as ternary refers to the number ‘three’, meaning that it expects three operands. But, if we try to replace an if-elif-else statement with a ternary operator, we’ll have four operands to handle (or possibly more if we have many ‘elif’ branches).

So what do we do here? Well, we need to chain together (or nest) multiple ternary operators (we cover this in the FAQs), but sometimes this can get a little messy, and it may be cleaner to use if-elif-else if the code becomes difficult to read.

Another thing to keep in mind is that we’re meant to use the ternary operator for conditional assignment. What does this mean? Well, we can’t use the ternary approach if we want to execute blocks of code after evaluating a conditional expression: in these situations, it’s best to stick with if-else.

But, we can use the ternary operator if we are assigning something to a variable after checking against a condition. See, it’s easy if we remember that we’re supposed to be assigning something to something else.

Distinct Features of Python Ternary Statements

• Returns A or B depending on the Boolean result of the conditional expression (a < b)
• Compared with C-type languages(C/C++), it uses a different ordering of the provided arguments
• Conditional expressions have the lowest priority of all Python operations

That's all. We did our best to fill you in on everything there is to know about the Python ternary operator. We also covered how to use ternary statements in your Python code, and we compared them to their close relatives, the ever-popular if-else statement.

If you’re a beginner that’s looking for an easy start to your Python programming career, check out our learning guide along with our up-to-date list of Python courses where you can easily enroll online.

Lastly, don’t forget that you can also check out our comprehensive Python cheat sheet which covers various topics, including Python basics, flow control, Modules in Python, functions, exception handling, lists, dictionaries, and data structures, sets, the itertools module, comprehensions, lambda functions, string formatting, the ternary conditional operator, and much more.

• Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are Ternary Operators (including an example)?

Programmers like to use the concise ternary operator for conditional assignments instead of lengthy if-else statements.

The ternary operator takes three arguments:

• Firstly, the comparison argument
• Secondly, the value (or result of an expression) to assign if the comparison is true
• Thirdly, the value (or result of an expression) to assign if the comparison is false

Simple Ternary Operator Example:

If we run this simple program, the "(m < n)" condition evaluates to true, which means that "m" is assigned to "o" and the print statement outputs the integer 10.

The conditional return values of "m" and "n" must not be whole statements, but rather simple values or the result of an expression.

2. How Do You Write a 3-Condition Ternary Operator?

Say you have three conditions to check against and you want to use a ternary conditional statement. What do you do? The answer is actually pretty simple, chain together multiple ternary operators. The syntax below shows the general format for this:

If we break this syntax down, it is saying:

• If condition_1 is true, return value_1 and assign this to var
• Else, check if condition_2 is true. If it is, return value_2 and assign it to var
• If neither conditions are true, return value_3 and assign this to var

We’ve now created a one-line version of an if-elif-else statement using a chain of ternary operators. 

The equivalent if-elif-else statement would be:

One thing to consider before chaining together ternary statements is whether it makes the code more difficult to read. If so, then it’s probably not very Pythonic and you’d be better off with an if-elif-else statement.

3. How Do You Code a Ternary Operator Statement?

We can easily write a ternary expression in Python if we follow the general form shown below:

So, we start by choosing a condition to evaluate against. Then, we either return the true_value or the false_value  and then we assign this to results_var . 

4. Is the Ternary Operator Faster Than If-Else?

If we consider that a ternary operator is a single-line statement and an if-else statement is a block of code, then it makes sense that if-else will take longer to complete, which means that yes, the ternary operator is faster.

But, if we think about speed in terms of Big-O notation (if I’ve lost you here, don’t worry, head on over to our Big-O cheat sheet ), then they are in fact equally fast. How can this be? This is because conditional statements are viewed as constant time operations when the size of our problem grows very large.

So, the answer is both yes and no depending on the type of question you’re asking. 

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Does Python Have a Ternary Conditional Operator?

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You know that some programming languages make use of a ternary operator to shorten if-else code blocks, but does Python support this kind of syntax? If so, what is the structure of a Python ternary operator?

The Solution

The ternary operator is used to shorten the code needed to write if-else blocks.

The syntax of ternary operators naturally differs between languages, but in most cases, the operator handles three arguments: the comparison, the result if true, and the result if false.

A normal if-else block takes at least four lines of code. For example,

The ternary operator lets you shorten an if-else block into a single line of code.

The Python Ternary Operator

The Python ternary operator follows this syntax:

The operator checks a condition, and returns x if the condition is true or y if it’s not.

Here is an example of a ternary operator use case:

The ternary operator above checks if x is greater than y , and if it is, assigns the value of x (10) to the variable z .

Further reading

If you’re looking for information on Python application monitoring, check out these links from our blog:

• Debugging Python Errors
• Getting Started with a Python SDK (docs)
• How Sentry Helps Grofers Meet Unprecedented Delivery Demand

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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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Ternary Operator in Python – What? How? Why?

by Enterprise DNA Experts | 6:16 pm EDT | April 22, 2023 | Python

In the world of programming, having the ability to simplify code is valuable for both code readability and efficiency. One tool at your disposal for doing this in Python is the ternary operator.

The Python ternary operator (or conditional expression) allows you to evaluate statements based on whether a given condition is true or false, all in a single line of code. It can effectively replace a multiline if-else statement making your code more compact.

As we explore the potential of Python ternary operators, you’ll find that they can be very useful for optimizing your programs. Whether it’s to simplify decision-making logic or streamline your code, using Python ternary operators effectively can make your code much easier to read and understand.

So, let’s take a look under the hood and see what they are all about!

Table of Contents

What is a Python Ternary Operator?

Python Ternary operators offer a concise way to evaluate a statement based on whether a condition is true or false, making your code compact and easier to read. Some people also call them conditional expressions or conditional operators.

Basic Syntax

The ternary operator was introduced in Python 2.5 and has a simple structure consisting of three operands:

This syntax consists of three main parts:

The condition : This is a boolean expression evaluated as either true or false, a

value_if_true : The value that gets returned if the boolean expression is true.

value_if_false : The value that gets returned if the boolean expression is false.

Common Use Cases

Ternary operators or conditional expressions are often used to simplify short if-else statements in your code. Here are a few examples to illustrate how you can apply a Python ternary operator:

Example 1: Assigning a value based on a condition

In this example, the Python ternary operator assigns the value “ adult ” to the variable category if the age is greater than or equal to 18, and “ minor ” otherwise.

Assuming we opted to use an if-else statement instead of a Python ternary operator, it would look something like this:

In this case, we can see that using a ternary operator makes the code much more compact and easy to read.

Example 2: Selecting the smallest of two numbers

Here, the ternary conditional operator helps you determine the smallest of two numbers by returning the smaller value between a and b.

Example 3: Assigning the minimum value of two variables:

The output for this example will be 10, as the ternary operator evaluates the condition and returns the smaller value.

Example 4: Finding if a number is even or odd:

The output for this example will be Odd , as the condition evaluates to False , and the ternary operator returns the appropriate result.

These examples demonstrate how a Python ternary operator can make your code more concise and easier to read. By using the basic syntax and understanding common use cases, you can effectively incorporate a ternary operator into your Python code.

In more practical applications, you can use it in conjunction with a loop to check, evaluate or perform operations on data.

For more efficient data handling, you can check out this video on How To Handle Missing Data In Python With Interpolation.

How to Use The Python Ternary Operator

The normal ternary operator if-else syntax is just one of many ways we can implement a Python ternary operator. We can also implement it by using common data structures like Python dictionaries, tuples, and lists.

Let’s look at some of these methods:

Dictionary Mapping

You can emulate a Python ternary operator with dictionary mapping to store the results for different conditions. It can be useful when you have a finite set of conditions and corresponding results.

Here’s an example using dictionary mapping to check if a number is even or odd:

The program above will return “ Odd ” since the boolean expression in the brackets evaluates to False.

Using Tuples

Python tuples are an ordered, immutable data structure that you can use to implement ternary operators. Basically, the tuple ternary operator has a syntax of:

The condition evaluates to either True or False which in Python are equal to the integers 1 and o respectively.

So, the tuple returns whichever element matches the resulting index. For example, if the condition evaluates to True which is 1 , the code return condition_is true .

Otherwise, it evaluates to False which is 0, and the tuple returns condition_is_false . Here’s an example below:

The tuple will store the value ‘ a ‘ in the variable result since the condition evaluates to False. Most developers do not like using this format for ternary operators as it can be a little confusing, which defeats the purpose.

Lambda Functions

Lambda functions are anonymous single-line functions that you can use as an alternative to ternary operators. They allow you to perform simple calculations and return a result based on a given condition.

Here’s an example of using a lambda function to find the maximum of two numbers:

The lambda function returns a if the condition evaluates to True . Otherwise, it returns b .

What is a Nested Ternary Operator?

A nested ternary operator is a conditional expression with two or more boolean expressions. You can create this by chaining two or more boolean conditions together to check multiple conditions.

We can use these types of ternary operators to model “ elif ” statements and nested if-else blocks.

Let’s look at an example of a nested Python ternary operator.

You can add brackets to the Python ternary operator if you want to mimic a nested if-else statement. However, this is not good practice as the ternary operator can become very long and unreadable.

In cases like this, you’re better off using a standard if-else block in your code.

What Are The Advantages of The Python Ternary Operator?

There are many advantages you get from using the Python ternary operator in your code. Some of these advantages include:

Code Readability and Brevity

Using the Python ternary operator can make your code more concise, allowing you to write conditional expressions in a single line.

This is especially helpful when dealing with simple and straightforward conditions. Your code can be more readable and easier to understand, as it reduces the need for multiple lines of if-else statements.

Performance Considerations

Although the ternary operator can lead to more compact code, its impact on performance is usually minimal. Python’s interpreter is designed to optimize code execution, meaning that both the ternary operator and if-else statements generally have similar performance characteristics.

When writing Python code, prioritize readability and maintainability over performance, unless you are working with performance-critical applications.

Remember that different situations call for different approaches. Sometimes, using the ternary operator is beneficial, while in other cases, sticking to traditional if-else statements may be more suitable.

Disadvantages of the Python Ternary Operator

Ternary operators are great for simplifying your code and making them compact. However, using them may have some drawbacks.

Here are some of these drawbacks:

Nested Ternary Operators Can Get Complex

In some cases, the ternary operator may make the code less readable, particularly when using complex or nested conditions. In these situations, incorporating conventional if-else statements may be more appropriate to maintain code clarity.

This is especially true when you’re trying to replace a nested if-else statement with a ternary operator. It seldom results in clean code.

Each Operand is an Expression

All the operands or return values in a Python ternary operator are expressions, not statements. Trying to use an assignment statement inside the ternary operator’s syntax will lead to a syntax error.

You can check out an example of this in the code below.

As you can see below, it results in a syntax error. In cases like this, you should use an if-else block instead of a conditional operator.

Best Practices and Tips

When using the ternary operator in Python, there are some best practices and tips to help you write clean, efficient, and readable code.

Firstly, ensure that your conditional expression is short and concise. Long and complex conditions might make it difficult to understand the logic behind the ternary operator.

If you find yourself facing a complex condition, it might be better to use a regular if-else statement instead.

Secondly, avoid nesting multiple ternary operators, which can lead to confusing and unreadable code. Like with complex conditions, consider using an if-else statement for more readability.

Lastly, be mindful of the appropriate use cases for the ternary operator. It is most suitable for simple, single-line assignments where the condition and the outcome are both easy to understand.

If your code involves more complex logic, loops, or multiple assignments, it’s better to stick to traditional if-else statements.

FAQs on Python Ternary Operators

Here are some questions new programmers usually ask us about ternary operators:

How do you use the ternary operator in a return statement in Python?

You can use a Python ternary operator in a function’s return statement. All you have to do is to add it to the return statement.

Here is an example:

Is a ternary operator faster than an if-else statement in Python?

No, both of them have similar performance characteristics. A ternary operator and an if-else statement both have an O(1) time complexity.

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Home » Python Basics » Python Ternary Operator

Python Ternary Operator

Summary : in this tutorial, you’ll learn about the Python ternary operator and how to use it to make your code more concise.

Introduction to Python Ternary Operator

The following program prompts you for your age and determines the ticket price based on it:

Here is the output when you enter 18:

In this example, the following if...else statement assigns 20 to the ticket_price if the age is greater than or equal to 18. Otherwise, it assigns the ticket_price 5:

To make it more concise, you can use an alternative syntax like this:

In this statement, the left side of the assignment operator ( = ) is the variable ticket_price .

The expression on the right side returns 20 if the age is greater than or equal to 18 or 5 otherwise.

The following syntax is called a ternary operator in Python:

The ternary operator evaluates the condition . If the result is True , it returns the value_if_true . Otherwise, it returns the value_if_false .

The ternary operator is equivalent to the following if...else statement:

Note that you have been programming languages such as C# or Java, and you’re familiar with the following ternary operator syntax:

However, Python doesn’t support this ternary operator syntax.

The following program uses the ternary operator instead of the if statement:

• The Python ternary operator is value_if_true if condition else value_if_false .
• Use the ternary operator to make your code more concise.

Ternary Operator in Python

The ternary operator in Python is a concise way of writing simple if/else statements in a single line. It returns a true or false value by evaluating a boolean condition. It is shorter and more readable than simple if/else statements. We can also implement ternary operators with tuples, lists, dictionaries, or lambda functions. Ternary operators can also be nested by chaining them.

What is Ternary Operator in Python?

The ternary operator (also known as a conditional expression) is a concise way of writing conditional statements in Python. It returns a value based on the result of a boolean condition.

Sometimes writing traditional if/else statements can become hectic. For instance, using if/else to simply print something:

It took 4 lines for such a simple task, we can achieve the same result with ternary operators in a single line.

In the following sections, we will see how to use the ternary operator in Python.

Takeaway The ternary operator is a way of writing simple if/else statements in a single line.

Syntax of Ternary Operator

Let's use the ternary operator to simplify the if/else statements written before.

Done! In just one line.

This conditional operator is given the name "ternary" because it is composed of three parts. Let's see each one of them in detail.

• The ternary operator is composed of three operands.

Three Operands of Python Ternary Operator

The ternary operator includes three operands:

• Condition: A boolean expression that evaluates to either True or False .
• True value: A value (any Python object) to return if the condition is evaluated to True .
• False value: A value (any Python object) to return if the condition is evaluated to False .
• The ternary operator includes a condition to evaluate, a true value, and a false value to return based on that condition.

Example of Ternary Operator in Python

We have already seen how the ternary operator can be used to print different values. Let's see a couple more examples.

Example 1: Assigning Variable Using the Ternary Operator

The ternary operator allows us to assign one value to the variable if the condition is true, and another value if the condition is false.

Suppose we want to assign a variable action according to the value of the variable signal :

Set action to "move" if the value of the signal is "green light" otherwise set the action to "stop".

We can do this in a single line using the ternary operator:

Explanation:

First, the condition signal == "green light" is evaluated. As the value of the signal is "green light", the condition is evaluated to True and the first value of the ternary operator "move" is returned and then assigned to the variable action .

Example 2: Returning Values Using the Ternary Operator

Let's write a function that returns different fee amounts by checking if a customer is a member or not:

As the condition is_member is False this time, the second value is returned.

• We can assign different values to a variable with the ternary operator depending on a condition.
• We can use the ternary operator to return a value from a function depending on a condition.

Various Ways to Implement Ternary Operator in Python

Although we have the simple method of defining ternary operators as described above, we can also implement ternary operators using:

• Lambda Functions

1. Implementing Ternary Operator with Tuples

We can implement the ternary operator with tuples:

Tuples are immutable data structures defined with parenthesis that stores an ordered sequence of values. For example: (1, 2, 3) is a tuple with three values. As tuples are immutable, you can not change the values inside it after it is defined.

We first created a tuple - ("stop", "move") with values for both true and false conditions. Then we used indexing - [signal == "green light"] to select one of the values.

The reason this works is that the condition will return either False or True which will be converted to 0 or 1 respectively when indexing.

Thus, the first value (0th index) corresponds to False and the second value(1st index) corresponds to True.

As in our case, the condition evaluates to True, thus "move" is returned.

2. Implementing Ternary Operator with Lists

We can implement the ternary operator with lists:

Lists are mutable data structure defined with square brackets that stores an ordered sequence of values.

For example: [1, 2, 3] is a list with three values.

Lists are similar to tuples, but they are mutable which means we can change the values inside of it.

This example is similar to tuple one. We just used a list instead of a tuple, the working remains the same.

3. Implementing Ternary Operator with Dictionaries

We can implement the ternary operator with dictionaries:

A dictionary is a collection of key: value pairs where each value is accessed using a unique key. It is defined using curly braces. For example: {"name": "harry", "age": 11} is a dictionary with two keys. Values are accessed using keys instead of indexes as in lists.

In this case, also a dictionary is created first and then the condition is evaluated and matched against the keys of the dictionary which are either True or False , and the corresponding value is returned.

Unlike tuples or lists, the order of true or false values doesn't matter with the dictionary.

4. Implementing Ternary Operator with Lambda Functions

We can implement the ternary operator with lambda functions:

A lambda function is an anonymous function that is defined without a name using the lambda keyword instead of the usual def keyword. For example: double = lambda x: x * 2 is a lambda function that takes one argument x .

We can also provide a lambda function inside of the tuple instead of hard-coded values as done before. One of the lambda functions will be called based on the condition.

• You can also implement ternary operators with a tuple, list, dictionary, or lambda functions.

Ternary Operator vs if/else

If we have done the same example using traditional if/else statements it would take 4 lines:

• Ternary operator is a better choice for simple if/else statements.

Nested Ternary Operator in Python

We can also nest ternary operators, here is an example:

This is equivalent to the following if/else statements:

Remember with great powers come great responsibility, just because you can nest ternary operators doesn't mean you should always do it. Nesting ternary operators may hurt readability and cause issues in development down the line.

• We can nest ternary operators by chaining them.
• We should avoid nesting as it may hurt readability.

Also, check out this article to learn about Operators in Python.

• The ternary operator is a concise way of writing simple if/else statements in a single line.
• Syntax: true_value if condition else false_value .
• False value
• You can assign variables with ternary operators.
• Ternary operators are shorter and more readable than simple if/else statements.
• We can nest ternary operators by chaining them to write complex if/else statements. This hurts readability and should be avoided.