Java code Question?

Umekichi · 02-01-2014 1:30pm #1

Hi there,
I have encountered a piece of code in a sample exam question and I am unsure as to what it means.
This is the code:

class Test{
public static void main(String[] args){
for(int i = 0; i < args.length; i++){
System.out.print(i == 0 ? args : " " + args);
}
}
}

The question asked is "What will be the output when it's run using the following command: java Test good bye friend!"

The output is good bye friend! But the part I cannot understand is the part within the brackets in the System.out.print statement. Can anyone help me?

TL:DR
What's going on in line 4 of my code?
Thanks!

camel jockey · 02-01-2014 1:41pm

It is a 'shortcut' for an if else statement.

If i equals 0 output the argument, otherwise output a space and the argument, the space being a separator. Just a quick way of adding the spacer where needed.

Umekichi · 02-01-2014 1:42pm

camel jockey wrote: »

It is a 'shortcut' for an if else statement.

If i equals 0 output the argument, otherwise output a space and the argument, the space being a separator. Just a quick way of adding the spacer where needed.

Oh ok, I get it now Thanks!

camel jockey · 02-01-2014 1:42pm

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4461996/short-if-else-statement

Skrynesaver · 02-01-2014 2:45pm

The

value=condition?value1:value2

construct is known as the ternary operator, it's a bugger to google

run_Forrest_run · 07-01-2014 12:34pm

Skrynesaver wrote: »
The
value=condition?value1:value2
construct is known as the ternary operator, it's a bugger to google

I always forget the name of the operator, googling is indeed fun, 'question mark in Java statement' is my common search term:D

Anima · 08-01-2014 10:17am

Bit pedantic but it is "a" ternary operator, not "the". I made this mistake myself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%3F:

In computer programming, ?: is a ternary operator that is part of the syntax for a basic conditional expression in several programming languages. It is commonly referred to as the conditional operator, inline if (iif), or ternary if.

Java code Question?

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