This is an old thread, but I can't believe nobody used this kind of example: 
$statement_type = $hate_ternary ? "if (condition) {} else {}" : $love_ternary ? 'var = condition ? valuetrue : condition2 ? valuefalsetrue : valuefalse' : 'keep = it ? simple : stupid';

Here are my personal guidelines:
Rule 1 - keep ternary operations simple
Rule 2 - use the best format or method
Rule 3 - if you really have to combine tenaries, it's better to daisychain them than to nest them (hint - complicate the False term, not the True term)

Combining ternaries
Not OK: 
my $value = $condition1 ? ($condition2 ? $value1 : $value2) : $value3;
OK for some programmers: 
my $value = $condition1 ? $value1 : $condition2 ? $value2 : $value3;

That last example is equivalent to a basic if, elsif, else. This should only be done for basic and simple tasks.

In reply to Re: Ternary operators: a hinderance, not a help by BitDreamer
in thread Ternary operators: a hinderance, not a help by Tanalis

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