Comparison Operators

Comparison operators are used to compare two values.
The result is always a boolean (true or false).

== (Loose Equality)

This compares two values only by value, not by type.

console.log(5 == "5"); // true

JavaScript automatically converts types before comparison (this is called type coercion).

console.log(true == 1);   // true
console.log(false == 0);  // true
console.log(null == undefined); // true

This can lead to unexpected results:

console.log("" == 0); // true

Because of these confusing conversions, this operator is considered unsafe in many cases.

=== (Strict Equality)

This compares both value and type.

console.log(5 === "5"); // false
console.log(5 === 5);   // true

No type conversion happens here.

console.log(true === 1); // false

This is the recommended operator for comparison in JavaScript.

!= (Loose Not Equal)

This checks if values are not equal, ignoring type.

console.log(5 != "5"); // false

It also uses type coercion:

console.log(false != 0); // false

So it has the same risks as ==.

!== (Strict Not Equal)

This checks if values are not equal OR not of the same type.

console.log(5 !== "5"); // true
console.log(5 !== 5);   // false

No type conversion happens.

> (Greater Than)

Checks if left value is greater than right value.

console.log(10 > 5); // true

If values are strings, comparison is based on Unicode:

console.log("b" > "a"); // true

< (Less Than)

Checks if left value is smaller than right value.

console.log(5 < 10); // true

String comparison also works lexicographically:

console.log("apple" < "banana"); // true

>= (Greater Than or Equal)

Returns true if value is greater OR equal.

console.log(5 >= 5); // true
console.log(6 >= 5); // true

<= (Less Than or Equal)

Returns true if value is smaller OR equal.

console.log(5 <= 10); // true
console.log(5 <= 5);  // true