Java Comparison Operators
Comparison Operators
Comparison operators are used to compare two values (or variables). This is important in programming, because it helps us to find answers and make decisions.
The return value of a comparison is either true or false. These values are known as
Boolean values, and you will learn more about them in the Booleans and If..Else chapter.
In the following example, we use the greater than operator (>) to find out if 5 is greater than 3:
Example
int x = 5;
int y = 3;
System.out.println(x > y); // returns true, because 5 is higher than 3
| Operator | Name | Example | Try it |
|---|---|---|---|
| == | Equal to | x == y | Try it » |
| != | Not equal | x != y | Try it » |
| > | Greater than | x > y | Try it » |
| < | Less than | x < y | Try it » |
| >= | Greater than or equal to | x >= y | Try it » |
| <= | Less than or equal to | x <= y | Try it » |
Real-Life Examples
Comparison operators are often used in real-world conditions, such as checking if a person is old enough to vote:
Example
int age = 18;
System.out.println(age >= 18); // true, old enough to vote
System.out.println(age < 18); // false, not old enough
Another common use is checking if a password is long enough:
Example
int passwordLength = 5;
System.out.println(passwordLength >= 8); // false, too short
System.out.println(passwordLength < 8); // true, needs more characters
