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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.

< 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