How to use the nested ternary operator in c++

We can nest ternary operators in C++. It helps in attaining the traditional else-if and the nested if functionality.

Syntax

We will show the syntax of attaining the functionality of nested if, and else-if separately below.

Nested if

condition1 ? conditon2 ? Code_Block1: Code_Block2 : Code_Block3
Syntax of nested if using a ternary operator

The syntax shows that if condition1 is true, then check condition2, else execute Code_Block3. If condition2 is true, then the Code_Block1 is executed, else Code_Block2 gets executed.

Nested if flowchart
Nested if flowchart

else-if

condition1 ? Code_Block1 : condition2 ? Code_Block2 : Code_Block3
else-if syntax using a ternary operator

The syntax shows that if condition1 is true, then Code_Block1 gets executed, else condition 2 is checked. Further, if condition2 is true, then execute Code_Block2. Otherwise, execute Code_Block3 .

else-if flowchart
else-if flowchart

Example 1: How to get nested if functionality

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
  int a;    // Declaring variable 'a'
  
  cin>>a;   // Initializing the variable 'a' using user input
  
  string result =  a > 10  //'result' variable stores the value returned by the ternary operator
  ? a >= 25    // Condition checked if a > 10 is true
  ? "Greater than 25"      // Executes if a >= 25 is true
  : "Greater than 10 but less than 25" // Executes if a >= 25 is false
  : "Less than or equal to 10";   // Executes if a > 10 is false
  
  cout<<result<<endl;  // Output 'result' on the screen
  
  return 0;
}

Enter the input below

Code explanation

  • Line 10: We will check the first condition of the ternary operator i.e., a > 10.

  • Line 11: If the condition a > 10 is true, we will check the condition a >= 25 .

  • Line 12–13: We will return Greater than 25 if a >= 25 is true, else we will return Greater than 10 but less than 25.

  • Line 14: We will return Less than or equal to 10 if a > 10 is false.

Example 2: How to get else-if functionality

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
  
  int a;    // Declaring variable a
  
  cin>>a;   // Initializing the variable with user input
  
  string result =  a > 10 // 'result' variable stores the value 
                          // returned by the ternary operator
  ? "Greater than 10"  // Executes if a > 10 is true 
  : a > 5   // Condition checked if a > 10 is false
  ? "Greater than 5"   // Executes if a > 5 is ture
  : a > 0    // Condition checked if a > 5 is false
  ? "Greater than 0"      // Executes if a > 0  is true 
  : "Less than or equal to zero" ;// Executes if a > 0 is false 
  
  cout<<result<<endl;     // Output 'result' on the screen
  
  return 0;
}

Enter the input below

Code explanation

  • Line 10: We will check the first condition of the ternary operator i.e., a > 10.

  • Line 12–13: We will return Greater than 10 if a > 10 is true, otherwise, we will check the condition a > 5.

  • Line 14–15: We will return Greater than 5 if a > 5 is true, otherwise, we will check the condition a > 0.

  • Line 16–17: If a > 0 is true, we will return Greater than 0. If not, we will return Less than or equal to zero.

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