How is the ternary operator correctly written in Java?

• A. x : y ? z
• B. x ? y : z
• C. ? x : y z
• D. x ? : y z

Answer: (B)

The ternary operator in Java is a shorthand for the if-else statement, allowing for a concise way to return one of two values based on a condition. Its correct syntax is condition ? value_if_true : value_if_false. Therefore, in the context of the provided options, the expression "x ? y : z" aligns perfectly with this syntax. Here, "x" serves as the condition that is evaluated; if it evaluates to true, "y" is returned, otherwise, "z" is returned.

Understanding the components of the ternary operator is key to using it effectively. The first part, before the question mark, represents the condition to be tested. The second part, between the question mark and the colon, is what will be returned if the condition is true. The third part, after the colon, is the value returned if the condition is false.

The other choices do not adhere to the necessary syntax for the ternary operator, making them incorrect representations.