# Relational operators
All relational operators compare the values of the operands and return True (-1) or False (0) as the result. All relational operators are binary.
Relational operators
| Relational operator | Operator name | Operator function |
| --- | --- | --- |
| < | Less than | A numeric comparison is made if both operands
can be interpreted numerically. The operation returns the logical value
of the evaluation of the comparison. |
| <= | Less than or equal | A numeric comparison is made if both operands
can be interpreted numerically. The operation returns the logical value
of the evaluation of the comparison. |
| > | Greater than | A numeric comparison is made if both operands
can be interpreted numerically. The operation returns the logical value
of the evaluation of the comparison. |
| >= | Greater than or equal | A numeric comparison is made if both operands
can be interpreted numerically. The operation returns the logical value
of the evaluation of the comparison. |
| = | Equals | A numeric comparison is made if both operands
can be interpreted numerically. The operation returns the logical value
of the evaluation of the comparison. |
| <> | Not equivalent to | A numeric comparison is made if both operands
can be interpreted numerically. The operation returns the logical value
of the evaluation of the comparison. |
| precedes | | Unlike the < operator no
attempt is made to make a numeric interpretation of the argument values
before the comparison. The operation returns true if the value to the
left of the operator has a text representation which, in string comparison,
comes before the text representation of the value on the right.
Example:
` '1 ' precedes ' 2' ` returns FALSE
whilst
`' 1' precedes ' 2'` returns TRUE
as the ASCII value of a space (' ') is of less value than the ASCII value of a number.
Compare this to:
` '1 ' < ' 2' `returns TRUE
and
`' 1' < ' 2'` returns TRUE |
| follows | | Unlike the > operator no
attempt is made to make a numeric interpretation of the argument values
before the comparison. The operation returns true if the value to the
left of the operator has a text representation which, in string comparison,
comes after the text representation of the value on the right.
Example:
`' 2' follows '1` ' returns FALSE
whilst
' 2' follows ' 1' returns TRUE
as the ASCII value of a space (' ') is of less value than the ASCII value of a number.
Compare this to:
`' 2' > ' 1'` returns TRUE
and
`' 2' > '1 '` returns TRUE |