title: Comparison with the strict equality operator
---
## Comparison with the strict equality operator
### Problem explanation:
· _Use the strict equality operator in the `if` statement so the function will return "Equal" when `val` is strictly equal to `7`._
#### Hint 1
Remember from last exercise that _equality is different from assignment (`=`), which assigns the value at the right of the operator to a variable in the left._<sup><ahref="#cite1">1</a></sup>
> _try to solve the problem now_
>
#### Hint 2
_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._<sup><ahref="#cite2">2</a></sup>
> _try to solve the problem now_
## Spoiler alert!
**Solution ahead!**
## Basic code solution:
```javascript
// Setup
function testStrict(val) {
if (val === 7) { // Change this line
return "Equal";
}
return "Not equal";
}
// Change this value to test
testStrict(10);
```
### Code explanation
The function first evaluates `if` the condition `(val === 7)` evaluates to `true`. If it does, it returns the statement between the curly braces ("Equal"). If it doesn't, it returns the next `return` statement outside them ("Not equal").
<spanid="cite1">1</span>. ["Basic JavaScript: Comparison with the Equality Operator", fCC lesson at *JavaScript Algorithms And Data Structures Certification*](https://learn.freecodecamp.org/javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures/basic-javascript/comparison-with-the-equality-operator)
<spanid="cite2">2</span>. ["Basic JavaScript: Comparison with the Strict Equality Operator", fCC lesson at *JavaScript Algorithms And Data Structures Certification*](https://learn.freecodecamp.org/javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures/basic-javascript/comparison-with-the-strict-equality-operator)
