Java Academy · Lesson

Ternary vs if/else

When to use each.

Two Tools, One Job

Both the ternary operator and if/else let you branch on a condition.

The key difference: a ternary is an expression that yields a value, while if/else is a statement that runs actions.

Choosing the right one keeps code clear.

This if/else assigns a label based on age.

It works, but takes five lines for a simple choice.

int age = 16;
String status;
if (age >= 18) {
    status = "adult";
} else {
    status = "minor";
}