Simple inequality operator (!=)

Value1 != Value2

Value1

The first value to compare.

Value2

The second value to compare.

Returns

Logical

Whether the first value is not equal to the second value.

Returns whether the first value is not equal to the second value. 2 != 32 != 3 returns TRUE, but 2 != 22 != 2 returns FALSE. "a" != "A""a" != "A" returns TRUE, because text string comparisons are case-sensitive (unlike the <> operator, where text string comparisons are case-insensitive.)

Array behavior

When applied to arrays, this operator returns a single TRUE or FALSE value indicating whether their elements are not identical.

This formula returns FALSE:

{ 2, 2 } != { 2, 2 }{ 2; 2 } != { 2; 2 }

This formula returns TRUE:

{ 2, 2 } != { 2, 3 }{ 2; 2 } != { 2; 3 }

The <> operator works differently. This formula returns the array { FALSE, FALSE }{ FALSE; FALSE }:

{ 2, 2 } <> { 2, 2 }{ 2; 2 } <> { 2; 2 }

This formula returns the array { FALSE, TRUE }{ FALSE; TRUE }:

{ 2, 2 } <> { 2, 3 }{ 2; 2 } <> { 2; 3 }

The behavior of the <> operator is useful particularly when used with the FILTER function. Refer to the <> documentation for more information.

Examples

2 != 32 != 3

Returns TRUE.

2 != 22 != 2

Returns FALSE.

"a" != "A""a" != "A"

Returns TRUE. Text string comparisons are case-sensitive.

"a" <> "A""a" <> "A"

Returns FALSE, as the <> operator compares text strings in a case-insensitive manner.

"a" != "a""a" != "a"

Returns FALSE. Text string comparisons are case-sensitive.

{ 2, 2 } != { 2, 2 }{ 2; 2 } != { 2; 2 }

Returns FALSE, because all pairs in the two arrays are equal to one another.

{ 2, 2 } != { 2, 3 }{ 2; 2 } != { 2; 3 }

Returns TRUE, because not all pairs in the two arrays are equal to one another.

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