Complete Guide to Blogger Comparison Operators (if/else, ==, !=, lt, gt, etc.) - KodeRian

When you start customizing a Blogger template, one of the first things you’ll encounter is the need to show or hide certain elements depending on conditions. For example, you may want to display a widget only on the homepage, hide related posts on pages, or adjust your blog’s layout depending on the number of posts. This is where comparison operators come in.

Blogger supports a set of comparison operators similar to those found in programming languages like JavaScript or PHP. These operators return boolean values—true or false—which you can use in <b:if> conditions or inside <b:eval expr="..."> expressions.

In this expanded tutorial, we’ll explore Blogger comparison operators in depth: what they are, how to use them, real-world examples, troubleshooting common mistakes, and even a quick FAQ. By the end, you’ll know how to confidently control your template logic.

What Are Blogger Comparison Operators?

Comparison operators compare two values and determine if a condition is true or false. The result of the operation is always boolean. You’ll use them to decide whether to display, hide, or change certain parts of your template.

For example:

• data:posts.size > 10 → returns true if you have more than 10 posts.
• data:view.type == "item" → returns true if the current page is a post.

List of Blogger Comparison Operators

Name	Operator	Default Syntax	Functional Syntax	Result
Equal	==	{allType} == {allType}	==({allType},{allType})	Boolean (true/false)
	eq	{allType} eq {allType}	eq({allType},{allType})
Not Equal	!=	{allType} != {allType}	!=({allType},{allType})
	neq	{allType} neq {allType}	neq({allType},{allType})
Less Than	<	{number} < {number}	<({number},{number})
	lt	{number} lt {number}	lt({number},{number})
Less Than or Equal	<=	{number} <= {number}	<=({number},{number})
	lte	{number} lte {number}	lte({number},{number})
Greater Than or Equal	>=	{number} >= {number}	>=({number},{number})
	gte	{number} gte {number}	gte({number},{number})
Greater Than	>	{number} > {number}	>({number},{number})
	gt	{number} gt {number}	gt({number},{number})

Important Rules to Remember

• Comparison operators always return true or false.
• Values must be the same type (string vs string, number vs number, boolean vs boolean).
• Arrays can be compared if both are the same type and length, otherwise the result is null.
• Operands can be explicit values (e.g., "item"), Blogger data tags (data:view.type), or nested expressions.
• You can nest operations inside others that accept boolean results.

Examples of Blogger Comparison Operators

1. Equal To (==)

<b:eval expr='data:view.search.label == data:blog.pageName'/>

This will return true if the label name matches the page name.

2. Not Equal (!=)

<b:eval expr='data:view.type != "item"'/>

This returns true if the current view is not a post (item) page.

3. Less Than (<)

<b:eval expr='data:posts.size < 10'/>

Returns true if your blog has fewer than 10 posts.

4. Less Than or Equal (<=)

<b:eval expr='data:posts.size <= 10'/>

Returns true if the number of posts is 10 or fewer.

5. Greater Than or Equal (>=)

<b:eval expr='data:posts.size >= 10'/>

6. Greater Than (>)

<b:eval expr='data:posts.size > 10'/>

Returns true if your blog has more than 10 posts.

7. Nested Expression with Ternary

<b:eval expr='(data:view.type == "item") ? "This is a post" : "Not a post"' />

Outputs text based on whether the current page is a post.

Functional Syntax Alternative

Blogger also supports a functional form for operators. This is especially useful when chaining multiple comparisons.

==({allType},{allType})
!=({allType},{allType})
gt({number},{number})
gte({number},{number})
lt({number},{number})
lte({number},{number})

Example:

<b:eval expr='eq(data:view.type,"item")'/>

Equivalent to: <b:eval expr='data:view.type == "item"'/>

Step-by-Step: Using Comparison Operators

1. Go to your Blogger Dashboard → Theme → Edit HTML.
2. Locate the section you want to customize (e.g., post, widget, footer).
3. Insert an <b:if> or <b:eval> with the comparison operator.
4. Preview changes before saving.

Extra Tips

• Always test in preview mode before saving.
• Use aliases (eq, neq, etc.) for readability.
• Escape operators properly (<, >) in XML.
• Be careful with case sensitivity in strings—“Item” and “item” are different.

Troubleshooting Common Errors

1. Always Returning False?

Check if your values are the same type. For example, comparing a string to a number won’t work.

2. XML Parse Error?

Escape comparison operators in XML code. Use < for < and > for >.

3. Unexpected Results with Arrays?

Only arrays of the same type and size can be compared directly.

4. Missing Quotes?

Always wrap string values in quotes, e.g., "item".

FAQ

Can I combine multiple comparisons?

Yes. Use logical operators like and or or inside conditions.

Do comparison operators affect SEO?

Indirectly, yes. By conditionally showing or hiding content, you can improve page speed and user experience—both important for SEO.

Are the symbolic and alias forms different?

No, they are equivalent. Use whichever you find easier to read.

Conclusion

Blogger comparison operators are essential tools for customizing your theme. They let you conditionally render widgets, posts, and layout elements based on boolean logic. Whether you use ==, !=, <, >, or their alias forms, mastering these operators will give you full control over your blog’s behavior.

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