Chaining the PHP ternary

TernaryChain.php

<?php

// Some people object to this use of the ternary. I think it's fine so long as each 
// condition-value pair fits nicely on one line. If so then the structure is highly 
// expressive. The value $var takes is very obvious. The logic that 
// this condition => that value, this condition => that value, etc. is plain to see.
$var =
    condition1 ? 'value1' : (
    condition2 ? 'value2' : (
    condition3 ? 'value3' : (
    'defaultValue'
    )));
    
// The equivalent using a chain of ifs is less readable, to my mind. You have to scruitinize 
// carefully to see that the entire block does nothing but set $var and that $var is 
// unconditionally set after it executes, facts that are obvious from the first line of the 
// ternary chain above. Moreover, all that repetitive if () { $var = } elseif () { $var = } 
// visual clutter makes it hard to see the salient facts while in the ternary chain the 
// condition-value pairs are neatly side-by-side.
if (condition1) {
    $var = 'value1';
} elseif (condition2) {
    $var = 'value2';
} elseif (condition3) {
    $var = 'value3';
} else {
    $var = 'defaultValue';
}