Relational operators in Java

Relational Operators in Java: An Overview

Are you eager to dive into the world of Java programming and master the art of using relational operators? Previously, in our Java Certification Course, we learned about different types of operators briefly. In this Java tutorial, we'll take you through a comprehensive journey covering various types of Relational operators in Java. Get ready for hands-on examples. Relational operators in Java play a crucial role in comparing values and making decisions based on these comparisons.

What are the Relational Operators in Java?

We frequently need to compare the relationship between two operands in Java programming, such as equality, inequality, and so on. In Java, relational operators are used to check the relationships between two operands. These operators allow developers to create logical conditions that form the backbone of control flow in Java programs.

The relational operators return a Boolean value after comparison. Relational operators are mostly used for conditional checks such as if, else, for, while, and so on. Java includes relational operators such as greater than (>), less than (), greater than or equal to (>=), less than or equal to (=), equal to (==), and not equal to (!=).

Syntax

Here is the Java syntax for relational operators:

operand1 relational_operator operand2

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Types of Relational Operators in Java

The commonly used relational operators in Java are:

1. Equal to (==): Checks if two values are equal.
2. Not equal to (!=): Verifies if two values are not equal.
3. Greater than (>): Tests if the left operand is greater than the right operand.
4. Less than (<): Determines if the left operand is less than the right operand.
5. Greater than or equal to (>=): Check if the left operand is greater than or equal to the right operand.
6. Less than or equal to (<=): Verifies if the left operand is less than or equal to the right operand.

1. Equal to (==)

The Equal To (==) operator determines whether the two operands are equal. If the operand on the left is equal to the operand on the right, the operator returns true; otherwise, it returns false.

operand1 == operand2

Example

import java.io.*;
public class RelationalOperatorExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int a = 5;
        int b = 7;
        boolean result = (a == b);
        System.out.println("Is a equal to b? " + result);
    }
}

Run Code >>

Here, the result variable will be assigned false because the values of a and b are not equal.

Is a equal to b? false

operand1 != operand2

import java.io.*;

public class RelationalOperatorExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int x = 10;
        int y = 10;
        boolean result = (x != y);
        System.out.println("Is x equal to y? " + result);
    }
}

Is x equal to y? false

operand1 >= operand2

import java.io.*; 

public class RelationalOperatorExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        double num1 = 8.5;
        double num2 = 6.3;
        boolean result = (num1 > num2);
        System.out.println("Is num1 is grater than num2 " + result);
    }
}

Is num1 is grater than num2 true

operand1 < operand2

import java.io.*; 

public class RelationalOperatorExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int m = 15;
        int n = 20;
        boolean result = (m < n); 
        System.out.println("Is m is less than n " + result);
    }
}

Is m is less than n true

operand1 >= operand2

import java.io.*;
public class RelationalOperatorExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int p = 30;
        int q = 30;
        boolean result = (p >= q);
        System.out.println("Is p greater than or equal to q? " + result);
    }
}

Is p greater than or equal to q? true

operand1 >= operand2

import java.io.*;
public class RelationalOperatorExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int value1 = 25;
        int value2 = 18;
        boolean result = (value1 <= value2);
        System.out.println("Is value1 less than or equal to value2? " + result);
    }
}

Is value1 less than or equal to value2? false

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Example of Relational Operators in Java

import java.io.*;
import java.util.Scanner;
public class RelationalOperators {
public static void main(String[] args) {
	Scanner scan = new Scanner(System.in);
	int num1 =10;
	int num2 = 20;
	System.out.println("num1 > num2 is " + (num1 > num2));
	System.out.println("num1 < num2 is " + (num1 < num2));
	System.out.println("num1 >= num2 is " + (num1 >= num2));
	System.out.println("num1 <= num2 is " + (num1 <= num2));
	System.out.println("num1 == num2 is " + (num1 == num2));
	System.out.println("num1 != num2 is " + (num1 != num2));
}
}

Output

num1 > num2 is false
num1 < num2 is true
num1 >= num2 is false
num1 <= num2 is true
num1 == num2 is false
num1 != num2 is true

Data Types Supported by Relational Operators

• Both objects and any primitive data type can be used with the == and != operators.
• Primitive data types that can be expressed as numerical values can be used with the <, >, <=, and >= operators. 
• It won't work with a boolean, but it will with char, byte, short, int, etc. For objects, these operators are not available.

Advantages of Relational Operators in Java

• Relational operators are a convenient way to compare values in code, such as text or numbers.
• They handle various forms of data and are essential to program decision-making.
• Programs operate more smoothly thanks to relational operators' speed and accuracy.
• When you use them, your code becomes readable, reusable, and easier to update and maintain.
• By using variable comparisons to identify issues in the code, they can help with debugging.

Importance in Decision-Making

Relational operators are often used in decision-making structures, such as if statements and loops, to control the flow of a program based on certain conditions. For example,

import java.io.*;
import java.util.Scanner;

public class EligibilityChecker {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int age = 20;
        if (age >= 18) {
            System.out.println("You are eligible to vote!");
        } else {
            System.out.println("Sorry, you are not eligible to vote.");
        }
    }
}

Output

You are eligible to vote!

Explore More Operators in Java

1. Arithmetic operators in Java
2. Logical operators in Java
3. Assignment operator in Java
4. Unary operator in Java
5. Bitwise operator in Java
6. Ternary operator in Java

Summary

In this Java tutorial, relational operators are essential tools for comparing values and making decisions in your programs. Understanding how to successfully employ these operators allows you to write logical and efficient code. Mastering relational operators is essential for any Java developer, whether they are working on basic conditional statements or complicated algorithms. If you want to learn further about Operators in Java, then take the Java certification course. This course covered all the concepts related to Java. After this course, you will be a master of Java programming.