diff --git a/docsite/rst/playbooks_variables.rst b/docsite/rst/playbooks_variables.rst
index 39a9f4bfa5f..f92d895d187 100644
--- a/docsite/rst/playbooks_variables.rst
+++ b/docsite/rst/playbooks_variables.rst
@@ -384,6 +384,10 @@ Hash types available depend on the master system running ansible,
 Other Useful Filters
 --------------------
 
+To use one value on true and another on false::
+
+   {{ name == "John" | ternary('Mr','Ms') }}
+
 To concatenate a list into a string::
 
    {{ list | join(" ") }}
diff --git a/lib/ansible/runner/filter_plugins/core.py b/lib/ansible/runner/filter_plugins/core.py
index 22ce73970cd..e2ac36e79f2 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/runner/filter_plugins/core.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/runner/filter_plugins/core.py
@@ -174,6 +174,13 @@ def regex_replace(value='', pattern='', replacement='', ignorecase=False):
     _re = re.compile(pattern, flags=flags)
     return _re.sub(replacement, value)
 
+def ternary(value, true_val, false_val):
+    '''  value ? true_val : false_val '''
+    if value:
+        return true_val
+    else:
+        return false_val
+
 def unique(a):
     if isinstance(a,collections.Hashable):
         c = set(a)
@@ -374,6 +381,9 @@ class FilterModule(object):
             'regex': regex,
             'regex_replace': regex_replace,
 
+            # ? : ;
+            'ternary': ternary,
+
             # list
             'unique' : unique,
             'intersect': intersect,