freeCodeCamp/guide/english/javascript/conditional-ternary-operators/index.md

---
title: Conditional Ternary Operators
---
## Conditional Ternary Operators
### Basic usage
The ternary operator is a compact way to write an if-else inside an expression.
```js
const thing = <condition> ? <if condition is true> : <if condition is false>;
```
E.g.
```js
const cappedInput = input > 50 ? 50 : input // this will cap the input at 50
```
### Else if
You can also chain ternary operators, this way you will have an if-else if-else behaviour
```js
<first condition> ? <value if first true>
: <second condition> ? <value if second is true>
: <fallback value>
```
### Comparison to if statement:
The ternary operator is essentially a simplification of the normal `if` statement. You turn this:
```js
if (condition) {
    <if condition is true>;
} else {
    <if condition is false>;
}
```
Into this:
```js
var output = <condition> ? <if condition is true> : <if condition is false>;
```
As you can see, it is much easier to write and read.
> **Pro tip**: As you see you can split the ternary operator on multiple lines
E.g.
```
const wealth = housesOwned > 3 ? "rich" 
             : housesOwned > 1 ? "nothing to complain"
             : "poor"
```