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# Function compare

Compare two values. Returns 1 when x > y, -1 when x < y, and 0 when x == y.

x and y are considered equal when the relative difference between x and y
is smaller than the configured epsilon. The function cannot be used to
compare values smaller than approximately 2.22e-16.

For matrices, the function is evaluated element wise.
Strings are compared by their numerical value.


## Syntax

```js
math.compare(x, y)
```

### Parameters

Parameter | Type | Description
--------- | ---- | -----------
`x` | number &#124; BigNumber &#124; Fraction &#124; Unit &#124; string &#124; Array &#124; Matrix | First value to compare
`y` | number &#124; BigNumber &#124; Fraction &#124; Unit &#124; string &#124; Array &#124; Matrix | Second value to compare

### Returns

Type | Description
---- | -----------
number &#124; BigNumber &#124; Fraction &#124; Array &#124; Matrix | Returns the result of the comparison: 1 when x > y, -1 when x < y, and 0 when x == y.


### Throws

Type | Description
---- | -----------


## Examples

```js
math.compare(6, 1)           // returns 1
math.compare(2, 3)           // returns -1
math.compare(7, 7)           // returns 0
math.compare('10', '2')      // returns 1
math.compare('1000', '1e3')  // returns 0

const a = math.unit('5 cm')
const b = math.unit('40 mm')
math.compare(a, b)           // returns 1

math.compare(2, [1, 2, 3])   // returns [1, 0, -1]
```


## See also

[equal](equal.md),
[unequal](unequal.md),
[smaller](smaller.md),
[smallerEq](smallerEq.md),
[larger](larger.md),
[largerEq](largerEq.md),
[compareNatural](compareNatural.md),
[compareText](compareText.md)