Learn Comparison Operators | Booleans and Comparisons

Comparisons let your program ask yes/no questions about values:

Are these the same?
Is this bigger?
Does this number fall inside a range?

A comparison returns a Boolean (True or False) and is the backbone of if/while logic.

The Essentials

Python provides six comparison operators (==, !=, <, <=, >, >=) to test equality and ordering between values, each comparison evaluates to True or False.

Equality `==`

Checks whether two values are the same.


              1234567
            
saved_pin = 1234
entered_pin = 1234
print(saved_pin == entered_pin)  # True → user entered the correct PIN

stored_email = "support@codefinity.com"
input_email = "Support@codefinity.com"
print(stored_email == input_email)  # False → case matters in string comparison

Note

= assigns a value to a variable, while == compares two values.

Inequality `!=`

Checks whether two values are different.


              1234567
            
user_id_1 = 105
user_id_2 = 203
print(user_id_1 != user_id_2)  # True → users have different IDs

username_1 = "alex"
username_2 = "alex"
print(username_1 != username_2)  # False → usernames match

Greater Than `>`

True if the left value is strictly larger than the right.


              123456789
            
# Comparing delivery times in minutes
estimated_time = 7
actual_time = 9
print(estimated_time > actual_time)  # False → delivery took longer than expected

# Comparing two product ratings
rating_product_a = 12
rating_product_b = 3
print(rating_product_a > rating_product_b)  # True → product A has a higher rating

Less Than `<`

True if the left value is strictly smaller than the right.


              123456789
            
# Comparing user's age with the minimum required age
user_age = 17
min_age = 18
print(user_age < min_age)  # True → user is too young to access the service

# Comparing names alphabetically
first_name = "Alice"
second_name = "Bob"
print(first_name < second_name)  # True → "Alice" comes before "Bob" alphabetically

Greater Than or Equal `>=`

True if the left value is larger or equal to the right.


              123456789
            
# Checking if a student reached the passing score
student_score = 7
passing_score = 7
print(student_score >= passing_score)  # True → student passed the test

# Comparing two package weights before shipping
package_weight = 4
min_weight_required = 9
print(package_weight >= min_weight_required)  # False → package is too light

Less Than or Equal `<=`

True if the left value is smaller or equal to the right.


              123456789
            
# Checking if an order total qualifies for a discount limit
order_total = 10
discount_limit = 9
print(order_total <= discount_limit)  # False → total exceeds the discount limit

# Verifying if a student arrived on time (in minutes)
arrival_time = 5
deadline_time = 5
print(arrival_time <= deadline_time)  # True → student arrived right on time

Chained Comparisons

Python lets you write ranges naturally: 0 < x < 10 means "x is greater than 0 and less than 10". Under the hood it behaves like (0 < x) and (x < 10).


              1234567
            
# Checking if the temperature is within a comfortable range
temperature = 7
print(0 < temperature < 10)  # True → temperature is within the cool range

# Checking if a user's rating fits the top-tier range
user_rating = 7
print(5 <= user_rating <= 7)  # True → rating is within the premium bracket

This reads cleanly and avoids repeating x.

Floating-Point Nuance

Some decimals (like 0.1) cannot be represented exactly in binary. That's why strict equality on floats can surprise you.


              1
            
print(0.1 + 0.2 == 0.3)  # False in many environments

When comparing floats for "equality", prefer a tolerance check.


              12
            
import math
print(math.isclose(0.1 + 0.2, 0.3, rel_tol=1e-9))  # True

You're not saying "exactly equal", you're saying "close enough".

Comparing Strings

String comparisons are case-sensitive and lexicographic (character-by-character in Unicode order).


              123456789
            
# Comparing user input with stored data
saved_password = "Apple"
typed_password = "apple"
print(saved_password == typed_password)  # False → passwords are case-sensitive

# Sorting items alphabetically
first_item = "apple"
second_item = "banana"
print(first_item < second_item)  # True → "apple" comes before "banana" alphabetically

For case-insensitive checks, normalize both sides first.


              12345
            
# Comparing email addresses entered in different cases
email_stored = "Support@Codefinity.com"
email_input = "support@codefinity.COM"

print(email_stored.lower() == email_input.lower())  # True → emails match, case ignored

1. Fill in the blanks with True or False:

2. Which single expression correctly checks that `x` is between 1 and 5 inclusive (using chaining)?

3. Which string comparison is True?

Everything was clear?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 2. Chapter 2

Ask AI

Ask anything or try one of the suggested questions to begin our chat

Awesome!

Completion rate improved to 5.26

Swipe to show menu

Comparisons let your program ask yes/no questions about values:

Are these the same?
Is this bigger?
Does this number fall inside a range?

A comparison returns a Boolean (True or False) and is the backbone of if/while logic.

The Essentials

Python provides six comparison operators (==, !=, <, <=, >, >=) to test equality and ordering between values, each comparison evaluates to True or False.

Equality `==`

Checks whether two values are the same.


              1234567
            
saved_pin = 1234
entered_pin = 1234
print(saved_pin == entered_pin)  # True → user entered the correct PIN

stored_email = "support@codefinity.com"
input_email = "Support@codefinity.com"
print(stored_email == input_email)  # False → case matters in string comparison

Note

= assigns a value to a variable, while == compares two values.

Inequality `!=`

Checks whether two values are different.


              1234567
            
user_id_1 = 105
user_id_2 = 203
print(user_id_1 != user_id_2)  # True → users have different IDs

username_1 = "alex"
username_2 = "alex"
print(username_1 != username_2)  # False → usernames match

Greater Than `>`

True if the left value is strictly larger than the right.


              123456789
            
# Comparing delivery times in minutes
estimated_time = 7
actual_time = 9
print(estimated_time > actual_time)  # False → delivery took longer than expected

# Comparing two product ratings
rating_product_a = 12
rating_product_b = 3
print(rating_product_a > rating_product_b)  # True → product A has a higher rating

Less Than `<`

True if the left value is strictly smaller than the right.


              123456789
            
# Comparing user's age with the minimum required age
user_age = 17
min_age = 18
print(user_age < min_age)  # True → user is too young to access the service

# Comparing names alphabetically
first_name = "Alice"
second_name = "Bob"
print(first_name < second_name)  # True → "Alice" comes before "Bob" alphabetically

Greater Than or Equal `>=`

True if the left value is larger or equal to the right.


              123456789
            
# Checking if a student reached the passing score
student_score = 7
passing_score = 7
print(student_score >= passing_score)  # True → student passed the test

# Comparing two package weights before shipping
package_weight = 4
min_weight_required = 9
print(package_weight >= min_weight_required)  # False → package is too light

Less Than or Equal `<=`

True if the left value is smaller or equal to the right.


              123456789
            
# Checking if an order total qualifies for a discount limit
order_total = 10
discount_limit = 9
print(order_total <= discount_limit)  # False → total exceeds the discount limit

# Verifying if a student arrived on time (in minutes)
arrival_time = 5
deadline_time = 5
print(arrival_time <= deadline_time)  # True → student arrived right on time

Chained Comparisons

Python lets you write ranges naturally: 0 < x < 10 means "x is greater than 0 and less than 10". Under the hood it behaves like (0 < x) and (x < 10).


              1234567
            
# Checking if the temperature is within a comfortable range
temperature = 7
print(0 < temperature < 10)  # True → temperature is within the cool range

# Checking if a user's rating fits the top-tier range
user_rating = 7
print(5 <= user_rating <= 7)  # True → rating is within the premium bracket

This reads cleanly and avoids repeating x.

Floating-Point Nuance

Some decimals (like 0.1) cannot be represented exactly in binary. That's why strict equality on floats can surprise you.


              1
            
print(0.1 + 0.2 == 0.3)  # False in many environments

When comparing floats for "equality", prefer a tolerance check.


              12
            
import math
print(math.isclose(0.1 + 0.2, 0.3, rel_tol=1e-9))  # True

You're not saying "exactly equal", you're saying "close enough".

Comparing Strings

String comparisons are case-sensitive and lexicographic (character-by-character in Unicode order).


              123456789
            
# Comparing user input with stored data
saved_password = "Apple"
typed_password = "apple"
print(saved_password == typed_password)  # False → passwords are case-sensitive

# Sorting items alphabetically
first_item = "apple"
second_item = "banana"
print(first_item < second_item)  # True → "apple" comes before "banana" alphabetically

For case-insensitive checks, normalize both sides first.


              12345
            
# Comparing email addresses entered in different cases
email_stored = "Support@Codefinity.com"
email_input = "support@codefinity.COM"

print(email_stored.lower() == email_input.lower())  # True → emails match, case ignored

1. Fill in the blanks with True or False:

2. Which single expression correctly checks that `x` is between 1 and 5 inclusive (using chaining)?

3. Which string comparison is True?

Everything was clear?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 2. Chapter 2

Comparison Operators

The Essentials

Equality ==

Inequality !=

Greater Than >

Less Than <

Greater Than or Equal >=

Less Than or Equal <=

Chained Comparisons

Floating-Point Nuance

Comparing Strings

1. Fill in the blanks with True or False:

2. Which single expression correctly checks that x is between 1 and 5 inclusive (using chaining)?

3. Which string comparison is True?

Awesome!

Comparison Operators

The Essentials

Equality ==

Inequality !=

Greater Than >

Less Than <

Greater Than or Equal >=

Less Than or Equal <=

Chained Comparisons

Floating-Point Nuance

Comparing Strings

1. Fill in the blanks with True or False:

2. Which single expression correctly checks that x is between 1 and 5 inclusive (using chaining)?

3. Which string comparison is True?

Equality `==`

Inequality `!=`

Greater Than `>`

Less Than `<`

Greater Than or Equal `>=`

Less Than or Equal `<=`

2. Which single expression correctly checks that `x` is between 1 and 5 inclusive (using chaining)?

Equality `==`

Inequality `!=`

Greater Than `>`

Less Than `<`

Greater Than or Equal `>=`

Less Than or Equal `<=`

2. Which single expression correctly checks that `x` is between 1 and 5 inclusive (using chaining)?