Aurora | Ternary Operator

Ternary Operator

The ternary operator is a compact conditional expression widely used in various programming languages, including in template systems like the one you're using. It provides a shorthand way of executing an expression based on a condition. In essence, it's a concise version of the if-else statement but used for assignments or direct output.

How It Works:

The basic syntax of the ternary operator is: `condition ? expression1 : expression2.`

Condition: This is the expression to be evaluated. If the condition is true, expression1 is executed; otherwise, expression2 is executed.
Expression1: This is the output or operation executed if the condition is true.
Expression2: This is the output or operation executed if the condition is false.

Examples in Template Engine:

Standard Ternary Operation


    {$a = 1}
    {$b = 2}
    {$a==$b ? '$a & $b are equal': '$a & $b are not equal' }

Here, if $a equals $b, the string '$a & $b are equal' is returned, otherwise '$a & $b are not equal'.

Ternary Operation for Positive Condition Only


    {$a = 1}
    {$b = 2}
    {$a==$b ? '$a & $b are equal'}

This example checks if $a equals $b. If true, it returns '$a & $b are equal'. If false, it returns nothing or a default value if specified.


    {$a = 1}
    {$b = 1}
    {$a == $b ? <span class="bold">ok</span>}

In this case, if $a equals $b, HTML content (ok) is returned. This demonstrates the ternary operator’s versatility in handling not just text but also HTML elements.

Key Points:

Ternary operators are invaluable for making templates more concise and readable, especially when dealing with simple conditional logic.
It can return various types of outputs, including strings, numerical values, and even HTML markup, depending on the need.
Correct implementation ensures templates remain uncluttered and maintainable, particularly when dealing with multiple conditions.

This capability greatly enhances the expressiveness and functionality of your template engine, allowing for dynamic and responsive template creation.