When to use == vs === Equality Comparison Operator in JavaScript

In this post, we'll learn about the difference between the == and === operators in JavaScript, and when to use each one.

By now, you are already aware that there are two types of equality operators in JavaScript, but you've probably wondered why that is, and when to know which one to use.

Let's learn about how each one works.

The === Operator

The triple equal === operator, or strict comparison operator, is used to check if the two values are of the same type and have the same value. If this is the case, it will return true, otherwise it will return false.

When we say "type", we mean whether or not the value is a number, string, boolean, or null.

This means that when using ===, it will return false when comparing 0 and "0", because they are not of the same type.

JAVASCRIPT
const results = 0 === "0";

console.log(results); // false

The == Operator

The double equal == operator, or abstract comparison operator, is used to check if the two values are equal, regardless of their type. If they are equal, it will return true, otherwise it will return false.

This means that when you use the == operator, it will return true when comparing 0 and "0", because they are of the same value.

What goes on under the hood is that the "0" is converted to a number, therefore being equal to 0.

When this conversion of type happens, it is called type coercion.

JAVASCRIPT
const results = 0 == "0";

console.log(results); // true

This doesn't happen only with numbers, but anything that can be converted, such as strings, booleans, and nulls. Because of this, things will be equal using the == operator, but not using the === operator.

The Verdict

While each operator has its own advantages and disadvantages, the === operator is the recommended operator to use when comparing values. Because it is more strict than the == operator, you will run into fewer oddities when comparing values.

You also don't need to worry about what will something be converted into before comparing it, as will happen with the == operator.

This isn't to say to never use ==, just to be careful and truly understand what is going on under the hood before using it.

Conclusion

In this post, we've seen how the == and === operators work in JavaScript, and how they differ. We also learned that the === operator is more strict than the == operator, and that it is recommended to use it when comparing values unless you know what you're doing.

Hopefully, you've found this post helpful and have learned something new!

Resources

• Equality Operators on MDN Web Docs

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