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JavaScript

JavaScript Basics

What is the difference between double equals (==) and triple equals (===) in JavaScript?

1 Answer

Vincent Anildes
Vincent Anildes
4,748 Points

"The difference between == and === is usually characterized that == checks for value equality and === checks for both value and type equality. However, this is inaccurate. The proper way to characterize them is that == checks for value equality with coercion allowed, and === checks for value equality without allowing coercion; === is often called "strict equality" for this reason." From You Don't Know JS by Kyle Simpson

"Coercion" is when JS converts the value type implicitly (or automatically.) So for example:

var a = 1; //number
var b = "1"; //string

a == b //true, because JS has converted the data type of "1" from a string to a number implicitly.
a === b //false, because JS has NOT converted the data type of "1" from string to number. === Does not allow it.

tldr: == checks if values are equal and allows coercion, === checks if values are equal and does NOT allow coercion.