In this section, we will learn what the ternary operator is and how to use it in Python.

Note: in this section we’re assuming you’re familiar with the if statement in Python.

What is Ternary Operator? (Python if else one line)

The ternary operator is a shorter version of an if-else statement.

Basically, we use the ternary operator when we want to run a short (single line) conditional statement and return a value based on the result of the condition.

Python Ternary Operator Declaration

This is how we can declare a ternary operator in Python:

[value_on_true] if [expression] else [value_on_false]

`value_on_true`: this is the value that will be returned if the result of the expression in the ternary operator is True.

`if`: after the `value_on_true` we put the keyword `if` in order to define the expression of the ternary operator.

`expression`: this is where put the expression to be evaluated.

`else`: after the expression, comes the `else` keyword, which is used to declare the value that should be returned if the result of the `expression` was False.

`value_on_false`: This value will be returned if the result of the `expression` is False.

Example: python conditional assignment

val = 500

res = 200 if val<600 else 1000

print(res)

Output:

200

Here, the condition is to see if the value of the `val` variable is less than the value 600. If it was, then the value 200 will be assigned to the `res` variable. Otherwise, the value 1000 returns and will be assigned to the `res` variable.

So here because the result of the condition is True, then the value `200` returned as a result.