freeCodeCamp/curriculum/challenges/english/02-javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures/basic-javascript/comparison-with-the-strict-equality-operator.md

---
id: 56533eb9ac21ba0edf2244d1
title: Comparison with the Strict Equality Operator
challengeType: 1
videoUrl: 'https://scrimba.com/c/cy87atr'
forumTopicId: 16790
dashedName: comparison-with-the-strict-equality-operator
---

# --description--

Strict equality (`===`) is the counterpart to the equality operator (`==`). However, unlike the equality operator, which attempts to convert both values being compared to a common type, the strict equality operator does not perform a type conversion.

If the values being compared have different types, they are considered unequal, and the strict equality operator will return false.

**Examples**

```js
3 ===  3   // true
3 === '3'  // false
```

In the second example, `3` is a `Number` type and `'3'` is a `String` type.

# --instructions--

Use the strict equality operator in the `if` statement so the function will return "Equal" when `val` is strictly equal to `7`

# --hints--

`testStrict(10)` should return "Not Equal"

```js
assert(testStrict(10) === 'Not Equal');
```

`testStrict(7)` should return "Equal"

```js
assert(testStrict(7) === 'Equal');
```

`testStrict("7")` should return "Not Equal"

```js
assert(testStrict('7') === 'Not Equal');
```

You should use the `===` operator

```js
assert(code.match(/(val\s*===\s*\d+)|(\d+\s*===\s*val)/g).length > 0);
```

# --seed--

## --seed-contents--

```js
// Setup
function testStrict(val) {
  if (val) { // Change this line
    return "Equal";
  }
  return "Not Equal";
}

testStrict(10);
```

# --solutions--

```js
function testStrict(val) {
  if (val === 7) {
    return "Equal";
  }
  return "Not Equal";
}
```