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Conditional expression

Handbook C# · Practical Guide

Computes only one of the two branches under the bool condition and returns its result. Also supports conditional ref.

Simple example (Example.cs)

Save this example separately as Example.cs. Run it independently of the other examples on this page.

Example.cs:

// PROJECT-EXAMPLE
int health = 30;
string label = health < 50 ? "Low" : "Ready";
System.Console.WriteLine(label);

Result:

Low

Syntax

condition ? whenTrue : whenFalse

Example 1

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Threading;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;

public static class Program
{
    public static async Task Main(string[] args)
    {
        int health = 35;
        string action = health < 50 ? "Heal" : "Ready";
        Console.WriteLine(action);
    }
}

Example 2

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Threading;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;

public static class Program
{
    public static async Task Main(string[] args)
    {
        int left = 2, right = 5;
        ref int selected = ref (left > right ? ref left : ref right);
        selected++;
        Console.WriteLine($"{left}:{right}");
    }
}

Official source: Microsoft Learn.