Question

I dont know what the question mark (?) stand for in java, I was doing a small program, a Nim-game. were looking in a book, for help and saw this statement:

int pinsToTake = (min >= 2) ? 2 : 1;

I don’t understand it, what will ? represent, can it be something to do with if-statement but you put it in a variable? and the : can be something “else”? (this things that I just said can be very misleading)

Answer 1

someval = (min >= 2) ? 2 : 1;

This is called ternary operator, which can be used as if-else. this is equivalent to

if((min >= 2) {
   someval =2;
} else {
   someval =1
}

Follow this tutorial for more info and usage.