The ternary operator is a concise way to perform conditional evaluations in programming. It takes three operands and is often used as a shorthand for an if-else statement. The syntax typically follows this format: `condition ? value_if_true : value_if_false`. If the condition is true, the first value is returned; otherwise, the second value is returned. This operator is commonly found in languages like Java, C++, and JavaScript. It helps streamline code by reducing the number of lines needed for simple conditional logic, making it easier to read and maintain. However, it should be used judiciously to avoid confusion in complex conditions.