User Guide

84 Chapter 2: ActionScript Language Reference

// Automatic data typing in this example converts false to “0”

var string1:String = "0";

var bool2:Boolean = false;

trace(string1 == bool2); // true

trace(string1 === bool2); // false

The following examples show how strict equality treats variables that are references differently

than it treats variables that contain literal values. This is one reason to consistently use String

literals and to avoid the use of the

new operator with the String class.

// Create a string variable using a literal value

var str:String = "asdf”;

// Create a variable that is a reference

var stringRef:String = new String("asdf");

// The equality operator does not distinguish among literals, variables,

// and references

trace(stringRef == "asdf"); // true

trace(stringRef == str); // true

trace("asdf" == str); // true

// The strict equality operator considers variables that are references

// distinct from literals and variables

trace(stringRef === "asdf"); // false

trace(stringRef === str); // false