KAMSC Sophomore Computer Science Semester 1 Practice Test

The tertiary operator, commonly referred to as the ternary operator, is characterized by its ability to operate on three operands. It is typically expressed in the form of a conditional statement that evaluates whether a condition is true or false, providing different results based on that evaluation. The syntax often resembles the structure of `condition ? expression1 : expression2`, where `condition` is evaluated first. If it holds true, `expression1` is executed; otherwise, `expression2` is executed.

This differentiates the ternary operator from unary and binary operations. Unary operations involve a single operand, while binary operations involve two. The ternary operator's unique structure, requiring three operands for its functionality, is what solidifies its classification as a distinct operator type. This capability makes it a useful shorthand in programming for conditional expressions, streamlining code while maintaining clarity.