var a = true; var b = false; var c; //shorthand var shorthand = a && (c || b); //long way var longway; if (a) { if(c) { longway = true; } else if (b) { longway = true; } else { longway = false; } } else { longway = false; } console.log('shorthand = ', shorthand); console.log('longway = ', longway);