Best Way for Conditional Variable Assignment

Question

Which is the better way for conditional variable assignment?

1st method

 if (true) {
   var myVariable = \'True\';
 } else {
   var myVariable = \'False\         


        

Answer 1

An alternative way of doing this is by leveraging the ability of logical operators to return a value.

let isAnimal = false;
let isPlant = true;

let thing = isAnimal && 'animal' || isPlant && 'plant' || 'something else';

console.log(thing);

In the code above when one of the flags is true isAnimal or isPlant, the string next to it is returned. This is because both && and || result in the value of one of their operands:

• A && B returns the value A if A can be coerced into false; otherwise, it returns B.
• A || B returns the value A if A can be coerced into true; otherwise, it returns B.

Answer inspired by this article: https://mariusschulz.com/blog/the-and-and-or-operators-in-javascript

PS: Should be used for learning purposes only. Don't make life harder for you and your coworkers by using this method in your production code.