Operator

# Less than

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forsearch

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Operator

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## Description

Used to determine whether one quantitative or alphabetic expression is smaller than another. `String</api/data_types/string>` comparisons are case-insensitive.

## Usage

``` xojo
result = expression1 < expression2
```

| Part        | Type                                                                              | Description                                                                     |
|-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| result      | `Boolean</api/data_types/boolean>`                                                | Returns `True</api/language/true>` if *expression1* is less than *expression2*. |
| expression1 | `String</api/data_types/string>`, Number, or `DateTime</api/data_types/datetime>` | Any alphabetic or quantitative expression.                                      |
| expression2 | `String</api/data_types/string>`, Number, or `DateTime</api/data_types/datetime>` | Any alphabetic or quantitative expression.                                      |

## Notes

A string is "<span class="title-ref">Less than</span>" another string if it is first when the two strings are sorted alphabetically. Use `String.Compare<string.compare>` to do a case-sensitive `String</api/data_types/string>` comparison.

You can use `Operator Compare</api/language/operators/operator_overloads/operator_compare>` to define comparisons for classes.

## Sample code

This example uses the \< operator to evaluate a and b.

``` xojo
Var a,b As Integer
If Not TextField1.Text.IsEmpty And Not TextField2.Text.IsEmpty Then
  a = TextField1.Text.ToInteger
  b = TextField2.Text.ToInteger
  If a < b Then
    MessageBox("A is Less Than B!")
  Else
    System.Beep
  End If
Else
  MessageBox("Please enter values into both boxes!")
End If
```

## Compatibility

|                       |     |
|-----------------------|-----|
| **Project Types**     | All |
| **Operating Systems** | All |

<div class="seealso">

`\></api/language/operators/comparison/greater_than>`, `\>=</api/language/operators/comparison/greater_than_or_equal>`, Less than, `\<=</api/language/operators/comparison/less_than_or_equal>` `=</api/language/operators/comparison/equals_operator>`, `<></api/language/operators/comparison/not_equal>` operators; `Operator Compare</api/language/operators/operator_overloads/operator_compare>`, `String.Compare<string.compare>` functions; `Operator precedence</api/language/operators/operator_precedence>`.

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