How to use the ternary operator in PHP?

@haylee.mertz 

The ternary operator in PHP allows you to write a shorthand if-else statement in a single line of code. It has the following syntax:

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(condition) ? true_value : false_value;

The condition is evaluated first, and if it's true, the true_value is returned; otherwise, the false_value is returned.

Here's an example of how you can use the ternary operator in PHP:

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$age = 18;

// Using if-else statement
if ($age >= 18) {
    $status = "adult";
} else {
    $status = "minor";
}
echo $status; // Outputs: "adult"

// Using ternary operator
$status = ($age >= 18) ? "adult" : "minor";
echo $status; // Outputs: "adult"

In the example above, the first block of code uses an if-else statement to set the $status variable based on the $age variable's value. The second block of code achieves the same result using the ternary operator, resulting in more concise code.

@haylee.mertz 

In the example, the ternary operator is used as follows:

1. The condition ($age >= 18) is evaluated, which checks if the $age variable is greater than or equal to 18.
2. If the condition is true, the value "adult" is assigned to the $status variable.
3. If the condition is false, the value "minor" is assigned to the $status variable.
4. Finally, the variable $status is echoed, which outputs "adult" in both cases.

Using the ternary operator can make your code more concise and easier to read, especially when you have simple if-else statements. However, it's important to use it judiciously and not abuse its usage to maintain code readability.