I have a variable that I want to check if it is empty. I want to know if I can pass multiple statements if the check is true or false, like:

var checkme = '';

if(checkme == ''){
     checkme = 'something new';
     do_this();
}else{
     checkme = '';
     something_else();
}

but using the ? operator instead. Something like:

checkme == '' ? (checkme = 'something new') (do_this()) :
                (checkme = '') (something_else());

I hope you get what I mean by that. I actually got something like that to work, but the console of the browser doesn't like it. Is there a way to properly do this, or do I need to write out the if...else statement?

I have a variable that I want to check if it is empty. I want to know if I can pass multiple statements if the check is true or false, like:

var checkme = '';

if(checkme == ''){
     checkme = 'something new';
     do_this();
}else{
     checkme = '';
     something_else();
}

but using the ? operator instead. Something like:

checkme == '' ? (checkme = 'something new') (do_this()) :
                (checkme = '') (something_else());

I hope you get what I mean by that. I actually got something like that to work, but the console of the browser doesn't like it. Is there a way to properly do this, or do I need to write out the if...else statement?

• javascript

Share Improve this question Follow asked Dec 3, 2015 at 11:22 Cycling PaperCycling Paper 551010 bronze badges 4

• Use && or || in between two conditions – Tushar Commented Dec 3, 2015 at 11:22
• What's the problem with if {...} else {...} ? – Andreas Commented Dec 3, 2015 at 11:24
• 1 The ternary operator is for assignment, please don't use it to execute code. if-else is the right tool for that. – Sulthan Commented Dec 3, 2015 at 11:24
• I couldn't find anything that told me not to, so I was curious. Thanks! – Cycling Paper Commented Dec 3, 2015 at 11:27

Add a ment  | 

4 Answers 4

Sorted by: Reset to default 5

Yeap you can do. Example below & fiddle:

var a = true;

a ? (console.log(1 + 1),console.log(2+2)): 
    (console.log(false), console.log(false))

your case :

checkme == '' ? (checkme = 'something new', do_this()) :
                (checkme = '', something_else());

Just separate your mands with a. Mozilla Doc

Thanks.

checkme == '' ? ((checkme = 'something new') && (do_this())) :
            ((checkme = '') && (something_else()));

as Tushar said

It works even shorter, if the position of the function call is not important.

checkme = checkme ? (something_else(), '') : (do_this(), 'something new');

if you really need to have fun doin it like that:

window[checkme == '' ? (checkme = 'something new') &&  'do_this' : (checkme = '') && 'something_else']()

this will look for the function by string and execute it and also assign the new value