Ternary operator usage in Ruby - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the ternary operator in Ruby?

The ternary operator is a short way to write an if-else statement in one line. It uses the syntax: condition ? true_value : false_value.

beginner

How does the ternary operator improve code readability?

It makes simple if-else decisions concise and easy to read by reducing multiple lines into one line.

beginner

Example: What does this Ruby code return? <br>age = 20<br>result = age >= 18 ? 'Adult' : 'Minor'

It returns 'Adult' because the condition age >= 18 is true.

intermediate

Can the ternary operator be nested in Ruby?

Yes, but nesting ternary operators can make code hard to read. It's better to use regular if-else for complex conditions.

beginner

What is the difference between ternary operator and if-else in Ruby?

Ternary operator is a compact form for simple if-else statements. If-else can handle multiple lines and complex logic.

What symbol separates the true and false parts in a Ruby ternary operator?

A :

B ?

C ;

D ->

The colon ':' separates the true and false expressions in the ternary operator.

Which of these is a correct Ruby ternary operator syntax?

A condition if true_value else false_value

B condition : true_value ? false_value

C condition ? true_value ? false_value

D condition ? true_value : false_value

The correct syntax is condition ? true_value : false_value.

What will this Ruby code output? <br> puts 5 > 10 ? 'Yes' : 'No'

A 5 > 10

B Yes

C No

D Error

Since 5 is not greater than 10, the condition is false, so it outputs 'No'.

Is it good practice to use ternary operators for complex multiple conditions?

A Yes, always

B No, it reduces readability

C Only if nested

D Only in loops

Using ternary operators for complex conditions makes code hard to read; use if-else instead.

What does the ternary operator return if the condition is true?

A The expression after '?'

B The expression after ':'

C The condition itself

D Nothing

If the condition is true, the ternary operator returns the expression after the '?'.

Explain how the ternary operator works in Ruby and give a simple example.

Think of it as a short if-else in one line.

When should you avoid using the ternary operator in Ruby?

Consider how easy it is to understand your code.