The tertiary operator, also known as the conditional operator, is a shorthand way of expressing a simple if-else statement. It allows you to assign a value or execute an expression based on a condition. The operator consists of a question mark (?) and a colon (:).

Syntax:

condition ? expression1 : expression2

If the condition is true, the value of ‘expression1’ is returned; otherwise, the value of ‘expression2’ is returned. The type of the expressions must be compatible.

Example:

#include

using namespace std;

int main() {

int num1 = 10;

int num2 = 20;

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

cout << "The maximum number is: " << max << endl;

return 0;

}

Output:

The maximum number is: 20

Applications of the ternary operator:

1. Conditional assignment: It can be used to assign a value to a variable based on a condition without the need for an explicit if-else statement.

2. Compact conditional expressions: It provides a concise way to perform different actions or return different values based on a condition.

Advantages of the ternary operator:

1. Concise syntax: It allows you to write conditional expressions in a single line, which can make the code more readable and compact.

2. Avoids code duplication: It eliminates the need for repetitive if-else statements for simple conditional checks, reducing code duplication.

Disadvantages of the ternary operator:

1. Limited complexity: It is not suitable for complex conditions or multiple actions that require more than two expressions. In such cases, using if-else statements might be more appropriate.

2. Reduced readability for complex expressions: Overusing the ternary operator or writing complex expressions with it can make the code harder to read and understand, especially for others who are not familiar with the code.