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

---
id: 56533eb9ac21ba0edf2244d0
title: Comparison with the Equality Operator
challengeType: 1
videoUrl: 'https://scrimba.com/c/cKyVMAL'
forumTopicId: 16784
---

## Description
<section id='description'>
There are many <dfn>comparison operators</dfn> in JavaScript. All of these operators return a boolean <code>true</code> or <code>false</code> value.
The most basic operator is the equality operator <code>==</code>. The equality operator compares two values and returns <code>true</code> if they're equivalent or <code>false</code> if they are not. Note that equality is different from assignment (<code>=</code>), which assigns the value on the right of the operator to a variable on the left.

```js
function equalityTest(myVal) {
  if (myVal == 10) {
     return "Equal";
  }
  return "Not Equal";
}
```

If <code>myVal</code> is equal to <code>10</code>, the equality operator returns <code>true</code>, so the code in the curly braces will execute, and the function will return <code>"Equal"</code>. Otherwise, the function will return <code>"Not Equal"</code>.
In order for JavaScript to compare two different <dfn>data types</dfn> (for example, <code>numbers</code> and <code>strings</code>), it must convert one type to another. This is known as "Type Coercion". Once it does, however, it can compare terms as follows:

```js
1   ==  1   // true
1   ==  2   // false
1   == '1'  // true
"3" ==  3   // true
```

</section>

## Instructions
<section id='instructions'>
Add the equality operator to the indicated line so that the function will return "Equal" when <code>val</code> is equivalent to <code>12</code>.
</section>

## Tests
<section id='tests'>

```yml
tests:
  - text: <code>testEqual(10)</code> should return "Not Equal"
    testString: assert(testEqual(10) === "Not Equal");
  - text: <code>testEqual(12)</code> should return "Equal"
    testString: assert(testEqual(12) === "Equal");
  - text: <code>testEqual("12")</code> should return "Equal"
    testString: assert(testEqual("12") === "Equal");
  - text: You should use the <code>==</code> operator
    testString: assert(code.match(/==/g) && !code.match(/===/g));

```

</section>

## Challenge Seed
<section id='challengeSeed'>

<div id='js-seed'>

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

testEqual(10);
```

</div>



</section>

## Solution
<section id='solution'>


```js
function testEqual(val) {
  if (val == 12) {
    return "Equal";
  }
  return "Not Equal";
}
```

</section>