Java Relational Operators

Introduction

Relational operators in Java are used to compare two values or variables. These operators return a boolean value (true or false) based on whether the specified condition is met. Relational operators are commonly used in control flow statements, such as if statements, loops, and conditional expressions, to make decisions in code.

Key Points:

• Comparison: Relational operators compare two operands.
• Boolean Result: The result of a relational operation is always true or false.
• Use in Control Flow: Often used in conditions for if, while, and for loops.

List of Relational Operators

Java provides the following relational operators:

Operator	Description	Example	Output
==	Equal to	a == b	true if a equals b
!=	Not equal to	a != b	true if a does not equal b
>	Greater than	a > b	true if a is greater than b
<	Less than	a < b	true if a is less than b
>=	Greater than or equal to	a >= b	true if a is greater than or equal to b
<=	Less than or equal to	a <= b	true if a is less than or equal to b

Detailed Examples of Relational Operators

Let’s explore each relational operator with examples.

1. Equal to (==)

The == operator checks if two operands are equal.

public class EqualToExample { public static void main(String[] args) { int a = 5; int b = 5; boolean result = (a == b); // true, since a equals b System.out.println("a == b: " + result); // Output: a == b: true } } 

Explanation:

• Comparison: The values of a and b are compared, and since they are equal, the result is true.

Output:

a == b: true 

2. Not Equal to (!=)

The != operator checks if two operands are not equal.

public class NotEqualToExample { public static void main(String[] args) { int a = 5; int b = 3; boolean result = (a != b); // true, since a does not equal b System.out.println("a != b: " + result); // Output: a != b: true } } 

Explanation:

• Comparison: The values of a and b are compared, and since they are not equal, the result is true.

Output:

a != b: true 

3. Greater than (>)

The > operator checks if the left-hand operand is greater than the right-hand operand.

public class GreaterThanExample { public static void main(String[] args) { int a = 7; int b = 5; boolean result = (a > b); // true, since a is greater than b System.out.println("a > b: " + result); // Output: a > b: true } } 

Explanation:

• Comparison: The value of a is compared with b, and since a is greater than b, the result is true.

Output:

a > b: true 

4. Less than (<)

The < operator checks if the left-hand operand is less than the right-hand operand.

public class LessThanExample { public static void main(String[] args) { int a = 3; int b = 5; boolean result = (a < b); // true, since a is less than b System.out.println("a < b: " + result); // Output: a < b: true } } 

Explanation:

• Comparison: The value of a is compared with b, and since a is less than b, the result is true.

Output:

a < b: true 

5. Greater than or Equal to (>=)

The >= operator checks if the left-hand operand is greater than or equal to the right-hand operand.

public class GreaterThanOrEqualToExample { public static void main(String[] args) { int a = 5; int b = 5; boolean result = (a >= b); // true, since a is equal to b System.out.println("a >= b: " + result); // Output: a >= b: true } } 

Explanation:

• Comparison: The value of a is compared with b, and since a is equal to b, the result is true.

Output:

a >= b: true 

6. Less than or Equal to (<=)

The <= operator checks if the left-hand operand is less than or equal to the right-hand operand.

public class LessThanOrEqualToExample { public static void main(String[] args) { int a = 3; int b = 5; boolean result = (a <= b); // true, since a is less than b System.out.println("a <= b: " + result); // Output: a <= b: true } } 

Explanation:

• Comparison: The value of a is compared with b, and since a is less than b, the result is true.

Output:

a <= b: true 

Conclusion

Java’s relational operators are essential for making decisions in your code by comparing values. These operators are frequently used in control flow statements, such as if conditions and loops, to determine the flow of execution based on comparisons.

Summary:

• Equal to (==): Checks if two values are equal.
• Not Equal to (!=): Checks if two values are not equal.
• Greater than (>): Checks if the left-hand value is greater than the right-hand value.
• Less than (<): Checks if the left-hand value is less than the right-hand value.
• Greater than or Equal to (>=): Checks if the left-hand value is greater than or equal to the right-hand value.
• Less than or Equal to (<=): Checks if the left-hand value is less than or equal to the right-hand value.