• dev_null@lemmy.ml
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      1 day 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.org
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        3 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
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          3 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