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Ternary: meaning, definitions and examples

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ternary

 

[ ˈtɜrnəri ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

mathematics, programming

Ternary refers to something that consists of three parts or elements. In mathematics and programming, it often describes operations or functions that involve three operands.

Synonyms

threefold, trinitarian, tripartite.

Examples of usage

  • Ternary operator allows for a compact conditional statement.
  • In a ternary system, numbers are expressed using base three.
  • The ternary structure of the composition creates a balanced piece.
Context #2 | Noun

mathematics, programming

In programming, a ternary expression is a shorthand for an if-else statement, allowing you to assign a value based on a condition succinctly. It typically takes the form of 'condition ? value_if_true : value_if_false'.

Synonyms

conditional expression, ternary operator.

Examples of usage

  • You can use a ternary for simple conditional assignments.
  • The ternary syntax varies between programming languages.
  • JavaScript supports the ternary operator for conditional expressions.

Translations

Translations of the word "ternary" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ternário

🇮🇳 तिर्यक

🇩🇪 ternär

🇮🇩 ternari

🇺🇦 тернарний

🇵🇱 ternarny

🇯🇵 三項の

🇫🇷 ternaire

🇪🇸 ternario

🇹🇷 ternary

🇰🇷 삼항의

🇸🇦 ثلاثي

🇨🇿 ternární

🇸🇰 ternárny

🇨🇳 三元的

🇸🇮 ternarni

🇮🇸 þríhliða

🇰🇿 үшжақты

🇬🇪 სამმაგი

🇦🇿 ternar

🇲🇽 ternario

Etymology

The term 'ternary' is derived from the Latin word 'ternarius', which means 'consisting of three.' It can be traced back to the word 'terni', meaning 'three each.' The adoption of 'ternary' in English dates back to the 15th century, primarily used in mathematical contexts to describe systems based on three parts or elements. Over time, its use has expanded into various fields, including logic, computing, and linguistics, to denote concepts that involve the number three. The concept of ternarity is significant in many areas such as the ternary numeral system in mathematics and ternary logic in computing, which further emphasizes the importance of the trio in different methodologies.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,605, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.