php - Return statement shorthand syntax -

this question has answer here:

• what question mark , colon (?: ternary operator) mean in objective-c? 12 answers

i new php developing far have been able whatever want. came across strange syntax of writing return statement:

public static function return_taxonomy_field_value( $value ) {     return (! empty(self::$settings['tax_value']) ) ? self::$settings['tax_value'] : $value; } 

i return() , !empty() after has ? , that's lost. appreciated! guys

this ternary operator, short version of if statement.

this:

$a = $test ? $b : $c; 

is same as:

if($test) {     $a=$b; } else {     $a=$c; } 

so example equivalent to:

if(! empty(self::$settings['tax_value']) {     return self::$settings['tax_value']; } else {     return $value; } 

you can find more info here, tips precautions when using ternary operators.

important note difference other languages

since question marked duplicate of question deals ternary operator in objective-c, feel difference needs addressed.

the ternary operator in php has different associativity 1 in c language (and others far know). illustrate this, consider following example:

$val = "b"; $choice = ( ($val == "a") ? 1 : ($val == "b") ? 2 : ($val == "c") ? 3 : 0 ); echo $choice; 

the result of code (in php) 3, though seem 2 should correct answer. due weird associativity implementation threats upper expression as:

( ( ( ($val=="a") ? 1 : ($val=="b") ) ? 2 : ) ($val=="c") ? 3 : 0 )     ▲ ▲                               ▲       ▲     | |                               |       |     \  \_____________________________/        /      \_______________________________________/