Tutorial Playlist
132 Lessons1. Introduction to C Tutorial
2. Addition of Two Numbers in C
3. Anagram Program in C
4. Armstrong Number in C
5. Array in C
6. Array of Pointers in C
7. Array of Structure in C
8. C Program to Find ASCII Value of a Character
9. Assignment Operator in C
10. Binary Search in C
11. Binary to Decimal in C
12. Bitwise Operators in C
13. Boolean in C
14. C Compiler for Mac
15. C Compiler for Windows
16. C Function Call Stack
17. C Language Download
18. Operators in C
19. C/C++ Preprocessors
20. C Program for Bubble Sort
21. C Program for Factorial
22. C Program for Prime Numbers
23. C Program for String Palindrome
24. C Program to Reverse a Number
25. Reverse a String in C
26. C string declaration
27. String Input Output Functions in C
28. Calculator Program in C
29. Call by Value and Call by Reference in C
30. Ceil Function in C
31. Coding Vs. Programming
32. Command Line Arguments in C/C++
33. Comments in C
34. Compilation process in C
35. Conditional Statements in C
36. Conditional operator in the C
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37. Constant Pointer in C
38. Constants in C
39. Dangling Pointer in C
40. Data Structures in C
41. Data Types in C
42. Debugging C Program
43. Convert Decimal to Binary in C
44. Define And include in C
45. Difference Between Arguments And Parameters
46. Difference Between Compiler and Interpreter
47. Difference Between If Else and Switch
48. Do While Loop In C
49. Double In C
50. Dynamic Array in C
51. Dynamic Memory Allocation in C
52. Enumeration (or enum) in C
53. Evaluation of Arithmetic Expression
54. Factorial of A Number in C
55. Features of C Language
56. Fibonacci Series Program in C Using Recursion
57. File Handling in C
58. For Loop in C
59. Format Specifiers in C
60. Functions in C
61. Function Pointer in C
62. goto statement in C
63. C Hello World Program
64. Header Files in C
65. Heap Sort in C Program
66. Hello World Program in C
67. History of C Language
68. How to compile a C program in Linux
69. How to Find a Leap Year Using C Programming
70. Identifiers in C
71. If Else Statement in C
72. If Statement in C
73. Implementation of Queue Using Linked List
74. Increment and decrement operators in c
75. Input and Output Functions in C
76. How To Install C Language In Mac
77. Jump Statements in C
78. Lcm of Two Numbers in C
79. Length of an Array in C
80. Library Function in C
81. Linked list in C
82. Logical Operators in C
83. Macros in C
84. Matrix multiplication in C
85. Nested if else statement in C
86. Nested Loop in C
87. One Dimensional Array in C
88. Operator Precedence and Associativity in C
89. Overflow And Underflow in C
90. Palindrome Program in C
91. Pattern Programs in C
92. Pointer to Pointer in C
93. Pointers in C: A Comprehensive Tutorial
94. Pre-increment And Post-increment
95. Prime Number Program in C
96. Program for Linear Search in C
97. Pseudo-Code In C
98. Random Access Files in C
99. Random Number Generator in C
100. Recursion in C
101. Relational Operators in C
102. Simple interest program in C
103. Square Root in C
104. Stack in C
105. Stack Using Linked List in C
106. Static function in C
107. Stdio.h in C
108. Storage Classes in C
109. strcat() in C
110. Strcmp in C
111. Strcpy in C
112. String Comparison in C
113. String Functions in C
114. String Length in C
115. String Pointer in C
116. strlen() in C
117. Structures in C
118. Structure of C Program
119. Switch Case in C
120. C Ternary Operator
121. Tokens in C
122. Toupper Function in C
123. Transpose of a Matrix in C
124. Two Dimensional Array in C
125. Type Casting in C
126. Types of Error in C
127. Unary Operator in C
128. Use of C Language
129. User Defined Functions in C
130. What is Variables in C
131. Is C language case sensitive
132. Fibonacci Series in C
The conditional operator in C programming offers a concise and efficient alternative to if-else statements in situations where there is only one statement corresponding to each condition. It evaluates an expression and executes the appropriate statement based on the result, providing a streamlined solution.
Before we dive into a deeper understanding of Conditional Operators, remember to have a basic understanding of the following -
In this article, we will explore the syntax and functionality of the conditional operator, highlighting its advantages over the if-else condition. Additionally, we will address common questions to ensure a comprehensive understanding of this powerful construct.
The conditional operator (ternary operator) in C is a concise expression that evaluates a condition and returns one of two values based on the result, making it useful for assigning or performing simple actions based on a condition.
The if-else statement in C is a control flow structure that allows the execution of different blocks of code based on a condition. It provides more flexibility and readability, making it suitable for handling complex conditions or executing multiple statements in each branch.
Conditional programming and if-else statements in C are similar as they both involve checking a condition and executing a statement based on the result.
Even though their functions are similar, they are some notable differences -
Pointers | Conditional Operator | If-Else Statement |
Programming Structure | Single statement | Block of statements |
Usage for Assignments | It can be used for assignments | It cannot be used for assignments |
Handling Multiple Statements | Not suitable for executing multiple statements | Suitable for executing multiple statements |
Nesting Complexity | Nested conditional operators can be complex and hard to debug | Nested if-else statements are easier to read and maintain |
Now that we understand what a conditional operator in C is, let’s study with some examples of where it is useful -
#include <stdio.h> |
In this example, the program prompts the user to enter a number. The conditional operator (number % 2 == 0) ? "even" : "odd" checks if the number is divisible by 2. If the condition is true (i.e., the number is divisible by 2), the string "even" is printed. Otherwise, if the condition is false (i.e., the number is not divisible by 2), the string "odd" is printed.
Let’s see a conditional operator example after assigning the maximum value -
int a = 10; |
Let’s see a conditional operator example of calculating the absolute value -
int x = -5; |
The conditional operator in C has the syntax:
(condition) ? expression1 : expression2 |
The conditions are treated as logical, where non-zero values are considered true, and 0 is considered false. expression1 and expression2 can be statements, expressions, variables, or constants. Based on the result, the operator evaluates the expression and executes either expression1 or expression2.
In C, the conditional operator evaluates the condition and implicitly converts the result to a boolean value. If the condition is true, expression1 is executed; otherwise, expression2 is executed. The result of the operator is the result of either expression1 or expression2. Only one of the two expressions is evaluated, while the other is ignored.
The conditional operator in C also has a shorter version for assigning values to a variable. Does it follow the syntax:
variable = condition ? value1 : value2 |
The condition is evaluated, and value1 is assigned to the variable if true. If the condition is false, value 2 is assigned. This version simplifies checking a condition and assigning a value to a variable.
The three parts of the conditional operator (ternary operator) in C are:
The condition is the first part of the conditional operator. It is enclosed within parentheses ( ). It represents the expression evaluated to determine whether it is true or false. It can be any valid expression in C that results in a boolean value (true or false).
Examples of conditions include a > b, x == y, or num % 2 == 0
Expression1 is the second part of the conditional operator. It represents the expression that is executed when the condition evaluates to true. Does it follow the ‘?’ symbol, and can it be any valid expression in C? The result of expression1 is returned if the condition is true.
For example, max = a or result = "Even" are valid expressions for expression1.
Expression2 is the third part of the conditional operator. It represents the expression that is executed when the condition evaluates to false. It follows the ‘:’ symbol and can be any valid expression in C. The result of expression2 is returned if the condition is false.
For example, max = b or result = "Odd" are valid expressions for expression2.
When using the Conditional Operator, it is common for even seasoned programmers to make some small mistakes. Knowing the mistakes does not necessarily help us solve the problem. However, it helps us avoid the next time -
int number = 5; |
Incorrect grouping of conditions. In the example, the expression (number == 1 || 2 || 3) is incorrect because each condition should be explicitly compared to the variable number. Each condition should be written as (number == 1 || number == 2 || number == 3) to ensure the desired comparison is performed correctly.
To fix this mistake, each condition should be explicitly compared to the variable number:
int number = 5; |
When using conditional operators in C, one common mistake is omitting parentheses to control the order of evaluation. The placement of parentheses is crucial for ensuring that expressions are evaluated as intended.
For example, consider the expression ‘TRUE || FALSE && FALSE;’. In this case, the ‘&&’ operator has higher precedence than the ‘||’ operator. Without parentheses, the expression is evaluated as ‘(TRUE || FALSE) && FALSE’. However, if the intention is to evaluate ‘TRUE || (FALSE && FALSE)’, using parentheses to group the desired expressions is necessary.
When working with conditional operators, thinking like a computer and considering how they evaluate expressions based on certain rules and principles is crucial. Failing to do so can lead to errors or unexpected results in our code.
One common aspect where not thinking like a computer can cause issues is understanding the concept of truthiness and falseness in programming languages. In many languages, including C, certain values are considered truthy or falsy based on their interpretation as logical conditions.
For example, any non-zero value is considered true in C, while zero is considered false.
By being aware of these common mistakes and following best practices, programmers can avoid errors and ensure that their code uses the conditional operator functions as intended.
Conditional operators in C offer a concise and efficient alternative to if-else statements for handling simple conditional expressions. However, it is important to use them judiciously, keeping code readability in mind. By understanding operator precedence, using parentheses when necessary, and thinking like a computer, developers can avoid common mistakes and maximise the benefits of conditional operators.
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1. What are the types of conditional operator in c?
In C programming, operators are categorised as unary, binary, or ternary, depending on the number of operands they operate on.
2. What are the benefits of using the conditional operator?
The conditional operator offers the advantage of reducing code length and complexity, particularly in cases where the condition and resulting statements are simple. It can make the code more concise and readable by eliminating the need for explicit if-else blocks.
3. Is substituting the if statement with the conditional operator in C possible?
No, the conditional operator cannot directly replace the if statement because it necessitates three operands, thereby necessitating the inclusion of the else part.
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upGrad does not grant credit; credits are granted, accepted or transferred at the sole discretion of the relevant educational institution offering the diploma or degree. We advise you to enquire further regarding the suitability of this program for your academic, professional requirements and job prospects before enr...