• dev_null@lemmy.ml
      0·
      4 days ago

      It’s a shorthand for writing this:

      variable = if (input != null) input else default

      This is equivalent:

      variable = input ?: default

      The answers confusing it with the ternary operator are wrong.

      • The Cuuuuube@beehaw.orgEnglish
        0·
        6 days ago

        gotacha. i’ve only ever heard them called ternaries. maybe i’m old. maybe i’m too young. definitely one of the two

        • QuazarOmega@lemy.lol
          0·
          6 days ago

          It specifically refers to this shorthand ?: that works like this:

          $value = $thing_that_could_be_truthy ?: 'fallback value';

# same as

$value = $thing_that_could_be_truthy ? $thing_that_could_be_truthy : 'fallback value';

          The condition is also the value if it is truthy