Conditional Operator in C ( ?: ) with Example

A conditional Operator in C is also called a Ternary operator; In this tutorial, you will learn everything about conditional or ternary operators in c programming with examples.

This tutorial will take several examples as follows:

• C program to find maximum between two numbers using conditional operator
• To check whether the given number is positive or negative using conditional operator in c
• Find the given number is odd or even using the conditional operator in c
• Find the largest among three numbers using the conditional operator in C

Conditional or Ternary Operator in C ( ?: ) with Example

C programming conditional operator is also known as a ternary operator. It takes three operands. Conditional operator is closely related with if..else statement.

Note that:- Conditional or ternary operators is used in the decision-making process.

Syntax of Conditional Operator in C

expression1 ? expression2 : expression3;

or for simplicity, we write it as

condition ? true-statement : false-statement;

Example 1 – C program to find maximum between two numbers using conditional operator

Using the conditional and ternary operator in c programming; you can find maximum between two numbers using conditional operator; as shown below:

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
  float num1, num2, max;

  printf("Enter two numbers: ");
  scanf("%f %f", &num1, &num2);

  max = (num1 > num2) ? num1 : num2;

  printf("Maximum of %.2f and %.2f = %.2f",
                num1, num2, max);

  return 0;
}

Output:-

Enter two numbers: 12.5 10.5
Maximum of 12.50 and 10.50 = 12.50

Explanation of the above c program:

• First take input two number from user in program
• Then expression, (num1 > num2) is evaluated.
• num1=12.5 and num2=10.5; so expression (num1>num2) becomes true.
• Hence num1 is the maximum number, and it is assigned to the variable max.

Example 2 – To check whether the given number is positive or negative using conditional operator in c

Using the conditional and ternary operator in c programming; you can check whether the given number is positive or negative using conditional operator in c ; as shown below:

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
  int num;
  printf("Enter a number: ");
  scanf("%d", &num);
  (num>=0)?printf("Positive."):printf("Negative");
  return 0;
}

Output:-

Enter a number: 8
Positive.

Explanation of the above c program:

• First take input number from user in program.
• Use ternary or conditional operator to find positive or negetive number.
• Print result.

Example 3 – Find the given number is odd or even using the conditional operator in c

Using the conditional and ternary operator in c programming; You can find the given number is odd or even using the conditional operator ; as shown below:

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
  int num;
  printf("Enter a number: ");
  scanf("%d", &num);
  (num%2==0)? printf("Even"): printf("Odd");
  return 0;
}

Output:-

Enter a number: 9
Odd

Explanation of the above c program:

• First take input number from user in program.
• Use ternary or conditional operator to find even or odd number from user input number.
• Print result.

Example 4 – Find the largest among three numbers using the conditional operator in C

Using the conditional and ternary operator in c programming; You can find the largest among three numbers using the conditional operator in c.; as shown below:

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
  float a, b, c, max;
  printf("Enter three numbers: ");
  scanf("%f %f %f",&a, &b, &c);
  max = (a>b && a>b)? a: (b>a && b>c)? b:c;
  printf("Maximum number = %.2f",max);
  return 0;
}

Output:-

Enter three numbers: 10 30 12
Maximum number = 30.00