Code sample showing the wonkiness of the precedence of the ternary statement in C.

ternary.c

#include <stdio.h>

char identity(char x);

int main(int argc, const char *argv[]) {
    int compound;

    printf("For reference:\n");
    printf("  the ASCII value of %c is %d\n", ';', ';');
    printf("  the ASCII value of %c is %d\n", '}', '}');
    printf("\n");

    /*
     * Bad.
     */
    compound = 0;
    printf("Should be falsy. Actually is %d\n", identity('}') != compound ? ';' : '}');

    compound = 1;
    printf("Should be truthy: Actually is %d\n", identity('}') != compound ? ';' : '}');

    compound = 0;
    printf("Should be truthy. Actually is %d\n", identity(';') != compound ? ';' : '}');

    compound = 1;
    printf("Should be falsy: Actually is %d\n", identity(';') != compound ? ';' : '}');
    printf("\n");


    /*
     * What actually is happening based on precedence rules.
     */
    (identity('}') != compound) ? ';' : '}';

    /*
     * What you want.
     */
    identity('}') != (compound ? ';' : '}');

    /*
     * Good.
     */
    compound = 0;
    printf("Should be falsy. Actually is %d\n", identity('}') != (compound ? ';' : '}'));

    compound = 1;
    printf("Should be truthy: Actually is %d\n", identity('}') != (compound ? ';' : '}'));

    compound = 0;
    printf("Should be truthy. Actually is %d\n", identity(';') != (compound ? ';' : '}'));

    compound = 1;
    printf("Should be falsy: Actually is %d\n", identity(';') != (compound ? ';' : '}'));

    /*
     * Output:
        For reference:
          the ASCII value of ; is 59
          the ASCII value of } is 125

        Should be falsy. Actually is 59
        Should be truthy: Actually is 59
        Should be truthy. Actually is 59
        Should be falsy: Actually is 59

        Should be falsy. Actually is 0
        Should be truthy: Actually is 1
        Should be truthy. Actually is 1
        Should be falsy: Actually is 0
     */

    return 0;
}

char identity(char x) {
    return x;
}