freeCodeCamp/curriculum/challenges/english/02-javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures/basic-javascript/practice-comparing-different-values.md

---
id: 599a789b454f2bbd91a3ff4d
title: Practice comparing different values
challengeType: 1
videoUrl: 'https://scrimba.com/c/cm8PqCa'
forumTopicId: 301174
dashedName: practice-comparing-different-values
---

# --description--

In the last two challenges, we learned about the equality operator (`==`) and the strict equality operator (`===`). Let's do a quick review and practice using these operators some more.

If the values being compared are not of the same type, the equality operator will perform a type conversion, and then evaluate the values. However, the strict equality operator will compare both the data type and value as-is, without converting one type to the other.

**Examples**

```js
3 == '3'  // returns true because JavaScript performs type conversion from string to number
3 === '3' // returns false because the types are different and type conversion is not performed
```

**Note**  
In JavaScript, you can determine the type of a variable or a value with the `typeof` operator, as follows:

```js
typeof 3   // returns 'number'
typeof '3' // returns 'string'
```

# --instructions--

The `compareEquality` function in the editor compares two values using the equality operator. Modify the function so that it returns "Equal" only when the values are strictly equal.

# --hints--

`compareEquality(10, "10")` should return "Not Equal"

```js
assert(compareEquality(10, '10') === 'Not Equal');
```

`compareEquality("20", 20)` should return "Not Equal"

```js
assert(compareEquality('20', 20) === 'Not Equal');
```

You should use the `===` operator

```js
assert(code.match(/===/g));
```

# --seed--

## --seed-contents--

```js
// Setup
function compareEquality(a, b) {
  if (a == b) { // Change this line
    return "Equal";
  }
  return "Not Equal";
}

compareEquality(10, "10");
```

# --solutions--

```js
function compareEquality(a,b) {
  if (a === b) {
    return "Equal";
  }
  return "Not Equal";
}
```