JS, what syntax is this? "var3 = (var1 > var2) ? var1 : var2"

Question

I found a script using the following syntax:

var variable3 = (Math.abs(variable1)>Math.abs(variable2)) ? variable1 : variable2;

As far, as I get it, that seems to compare if variable1 is bigger than variable2. Then output, if yes, variable1, otherwise variable2?

I couldn't find any description and this seems to be something handy, could someone explain it?

THX!

see here https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Operators/Conditional_Operator — eladcon, Apr 11 '15 at 11:55

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 11 '15 at 12:00

2

This is called the conditional operator (and is the only ternary operator in JavaScript).

It this case it is equivalent to

if((Math.abs(variable1)>Math.abs(variable2)))
{
   variable3= variable1;
}
else
{
   variable3 = variable2;
}

edited Apr 11 '15 at 12:00

Richard

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answered Apr 11 '15 at 11:56

Rahul Tripathi

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 11 '15 at 11:57

1

Its called the "Ternary Operator" Its another way to do a simple in-line if statement and return the value to a variable from it.

See Wikipedia for more info

answered Apr 11 '15 at 11:57

Xela

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 11 '15 at 11:57

0

it's similar to

if(Math.abs(variable1)>Math.abs(variable2))
    var variable3 =  variable1;
else
    var variable3 =  variable2;

answered Apr 11 '15 at 11:57

Abozanona

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 11 '15 at 11:58

0

This is actually a ternary conditional operator (also called a ? mark operator). This is used instead of if statement, but it is as flexible as if statement.

answered Apr 11 '15 at 11:58

Shuvam Shah

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JS, what syntax is this? "var3 = (var1 > var2) ? var1 : var2"

4 Answers4