PHP Shorthand Explanation

Question

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What is the PHP ? : operator called and what does it do?

What does this mean in longform? I haven't seen a line like this.

$max_o = $max_o > $o ? $max_o : $o;

Abel Mohler · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-05T18:15:22.837

5

This is the same as saying:

if($max_o <= $o) {
    $max_o = $o;
}

But in longhand it says

if($max_o > $o) {
    $max_o = $max_o;
}
else {
    $max_o = $o;
}

Which is rather pointless. This is a poor usage of the ternary operator since my first simple example would do just as well.

edited May 05 '11 at 18:15

answered May 05 '11 at 17:58

Abel Mohler

1

+1 for least code, though the construct in the question does include an "else". – AJ. May 05 '11 at 18:01
yep, I thought the same thing after I posted, as you can see I edited my answer – Abel Mohler May 05 '11 at 18:05
+1 For answering the question and giving an alternate solution. – Chad May 05 '11 at 18:20
Thanks! helped me out, makes perfect sense. – Collin White May 05 '11 at 19:54

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered May 05 '11 at 17:58

1

if ($max_o > $o)
{
    $max_o = $max_o;
}
else
{
    $max_o = $o;
}

answered May 05 '11 at 17:58

Syjin

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered May 05 '11 at 17:58

1

This is the php ternary operator. It is like the following code:

if ($max_o > o)
  $max_o = $max_o;
else
  $max_o = $o;

answered May 05 '11 at 17:58

Yet Another Geek

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered May 05 '11 at 17:58

1

The question mark is a ternary operator

it is the same as typing

if ($max_o > $o) {
    $max_o = $max_o;
} else {
    $max_o = $o;
}

answered May 05 '11 at 17:58

dqhendricks

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered May 05 '11 at 18:18

1

What you actually want to write is:

$max_o = max($max_o, $o);

Apart from that, the thing's called ternary operator and is a shortcut syntax for an if-statement.

answered May 05 '11 at 18:18

NikiC

5 Answers5