# Python Ternary Operator

> Learn how to use the ternary operator in Python to write a conditional in a single line, using the result if true if condition else result if false syntax.

Author: [Flavio Copes](https://flaviocopes.com/about/) | Published: 2021-02-22 | Topics: [Python](https://flaviocopes.com/tags/python/) | Canonical: https://flaviocopes.com/python-ternary-operator/

The ternary operator in [Python](https://flaviocopes.com/python-introduction/) allows you to quickly define a conditional.

Let's say you have a function that compares an `age` variable to the `18` value, and return True or False depending on the result.

Instead of writing:

```python
def is_adult(age):
    if age > 18:
        return True
    else:
        return False
```

You can implement it with the ternary operator in this way:

```python
def is_adult(age):
    return True if age > 18 else False
```

First you define the result if the condition is True, then you evaluate the condition, then you define the result if the condition is false:

```python
<result_if_true> if <condition> else <result_if_false>
```