Python Comparison Operators

Is the user old enough to sign up? Is the cart total over the free-shipping limit? Did the player beat the high score? Every one of these questions is a comparison, and Python comparison operators answer them with True or False. In this lesson, you'll learn all six operators, how to chain them, how Python compares text, and the one trap to avoid with decimal numbers.

What are comparison operators in Python?

A comparison operator compares the values on its left and right and gives back a boolean: True if the comparison holds, False if it doesn't. Comparison operators are also called relational operators.

suitcase_kg = 24.5
limit_kg = 23

print(suitcase_kg > limit_kg)
print(suitcase_kg <= limit_kg)
print(suitcase_kg == limit_kg)
print(suitcase_kg != limit_kg)

True
False
False
True

What is the difference between = and == in Python?

This is the number one beginner mix-up. A single = assigns a value (you met it in assignment operators). A double == asks a question: "are these two values equal?"

pin = 4321          # store 4321 in pin
print(pin == 4321)  # is pin equal to 4321?
print(pin == 1234)

True
False

How do you store the result of a comparison?

Because a comparison produces a value, you can store it in a variable, just like a number or string. Name these variables like yes/no questions:

cart_total = 62.40
free_shipping_minimum = 50

gets_free_shipping = cart_total >= free_shipping_minimum
print(gets_free_shipping)
print(type(gets_free_shipping))

True
<class 'bool'>

In real programs, comparisons usually go inside an if statement to choose what happens next. You'll learn that in if...else.

How do chained comparisons work?

Python lets you chain comparisons, just like in math class. 1 < x < 10 means "x is greater than 1 and less than 10". Most other languages make you write two separate checks; Python reads it the natural way.

temperature = 22

print(18 <= temperature <= 25)   # comfortable room temperature?

temperature = 30
print(18 <= temperature <= 25)

True
False

Behind the scenes, 18 <= temperature <= 25 is the same as 18 <= temperature and temperature <= 25. (You'll meet and properly in logical operators.)

Can you compare different types?

Ints and floats compare by their value, so 5 == 5.0 is True. Text and numbers are never equal, though, even if they look the same:

print(5 == 5.0)
print("5" == 5)
print(True == 1)

True
False
True

Ordering operators like < and > are stricter. Comparing a string with a number raises an error:

age = "17"
print(age < 18)

TypeError: '<' not supported between instances of 'str' and 'int'

This often happens with values from input(), which are always strings. Convert them with int() first, as covered in type conversion.

How does Python compare strings?

== and != on strings check whether the text is exactly the same, character by character. The ordering operators compare strings alphabetically, like words in a dictionary:

print("apple" < "banana")
print("apple" < "apricot")   # first difference: p vs r
print("cat" < "catalog")     # a shorter prefix comes first

True
True
True

There's a catch: Python actually compares each character's code number (its Unicode value), and all uppercase letters come before all lowercase letters. So comparisons are case-sensitive:

print("Paris" == "paris")
print("Zebra" < "apple")
print(ord("Z"), ord("a"))

False
True
90 97

The built-in ord() function shows a character's code number. "Z" is 90 and "a" is 97, so "Zebra" sorts before "apple".

Why should you be careful comparing floats?

As you saw in Python numbers, floats are stored with tiny rounding errors. That makes == unreliable for decimal results:

import math

total = 0.1 + 0.2
print(total == 0.3)
print(math.isclose(total, 0.3))
print(round(total, 2) == 0.3)

False
True
True

Use math.isclose() or round both sides before comparing decimals. Comparisons with < and > are usually fine, because a tiny error rarely changes which number is bigger.

Is == the same as is?

No. == checks whether two values are equal. The is operator checks whether two names point to the very same object in memory. Two different objects can hold equal values. For now, use == to compare values; you'll learn when is is the right choice in identity and membership operators.

Real-world example: checking a game high score

high_score = 8450
player_score = 9120
lives_left = 0

new_record = player_score > high_score
game_over = lives_left == 0
bonus_zone = 9000 <= player_score < 10000

print("New record:", new_record)
print("Game over:", game_over)
print("Bonus zone:", bonus_zone)

New record: True
Game over: True
Bonus zone: True

Common mistakes with comparison operators

1. Using = when you mean ==

score = 100
print(score = 100)

TypeError: 'score' is an invalid keyword argument for print()

Inside print(), a single = is read as a named argument (like sep=), so Python complains. Use == to compare.

2. Writing =< or =>

The equals sign always comes second: <= and >=. Writing =< or => is a SyntaxError. A simple way to remember: say it out loud, "less than or equal", in that order.

3. Comparing numbers stored as text

"100" > "20" is False, because the comparison is alphabetical. Convert with int() or float() first.

4. Using == with float results

0.1 + 0.2 == 0.3 is False. Use math.isclose() or round().

Practice exercise

age = 9

print("Child price:", 3 <= age <= 12)
print("Exactly 12:", age == 12)
print("Adult:", age >= 18)

Child price: True
Exactly 12: False
Adult: False

What's next?

Single comparisons are great, but real rules often combine several conditions, like "logged in and has paid". Next, learn how to combine them with Python logical operators: and, or, not.