Question

Surely this should be valid Java? Have I got the syntax slightly wrong?

return (url != null) ? url : (throw new NotFoundException("No url"));

If not I suppose I’d have to do this:

if(url == null)
    throw new NotFoundException("No url");
return url;

Anyone have anything more succinct?

Answer 1

Because you’re not fulfilling the return:

return <comparison> ? <value1> :(else) <value2>

In your case, you’re fulfilling the value1 but not value2 and instead you’re throwing a new exception.

Your actual first code would be translated to

if (url != null) {
    return url;
} else {
    return throw new NotFoundException("No url"); //makes sense?
}