Block: Text Compare

Type: text_compare

Compare two text values using different comparison operations. Perfect for conditional logic, filtering data, validating user input, or creating smart automation rules based on text content matching, differences, or substring detection.

What is Text Compare?

The Text Compare block evaluates two text inputs using a specified comparison operator and returns true or false. This enables you to build conditional logic based on text content, whether checking for exact matches, detecting differences, or finding substrings within larger text.

How It Works

The block performs three types of text comparison operations:

• Equals (=) - Exact match comparison (case-sensitive)
• Not Equals (≠) - Different text detection
• Includes - Substring detection within text

Comparison Operators

Equals (=) - Exact Match

Returns true when both text values are exactly the same, including case sensitivity.

Case Sensitivity Alert

Text comparison is case-sensitive! "Hello" is NOT equal to "hello"

Examples:

• "hello" = "hello" → true
• "Hello" = "hello" → false (case-sensitive)
• "test123" = "test123" → true
• " test " = "test" → false (whitespace matters)

Common Uses:

• ✅ Check device status: device_status = "online"
• ✅ Validate user role: user_role = "admin"
• ✅ Confirm completion: task_status = "completed"

Not Equals (≠) - Different Values

Returns true when text values are different in any way.

Examples:

• "hello" ≠ "world" → true
• "same" ≠ "same" → false
• "Test" ≠ "test" → true (case-sensitive)

Common Uses:

• ⚠️ Detect changes: current_status ≠ previous_status
• 🚫 Block guest users: username ≠ "guest"
• 📝 Validate required fields: input_field ≠ ""

Includes - Substring Detection

Returns true when the left text contains the right text as a substring.

Perfect for Keyword Searching

Use includes to search for keywords within longer text like error messages, logs, or user input

Examples:

• "hello world" includes "world" → true
• "temperature alert" includes "temp" → true
• "test" includes "testing" → false (left must contain right)

Common Uses:

• 🔍 Find errors: error_log includes "timeout"
• 📧 Email filtering: email_address includes "@company.com"
• 🎯 Command parsing: voice_command includes "lights"

Practical Examples

🏠 Smart Home Examples

Door & Security

// Check if door is locked
door_status = "locked" → Turn off porch light

// Alert if door left open
door_status ≠ "closed" → Send notification

// Security monitoring
security_log includes "breach" → Trigger alarm

Temperature & Climate

// AC control
room_temp = "hot" → Turn on air conditioning

// Sensor errors
temp_reading includes "error" → Send maintenance alert

// Room occupancy
bedroom_status ≠ "occupied" → Reduce heating

🔧 System Monitoring Examples

Error Detection

// System health
system_status ≠ "healthy" → Send alert
error_message includes "critical" → Immediate notification

// Performance monitoring
response_time includes "slow" → Log performance issue

Device Management

// Connectivity checks
device_ping ≠ "success" → Mark device offline
connection_type = "ethernet" → Use high-speed settings

// Battery monitoring
battery_level includes "low" → Send low battery warning

Common Issues & Solutions

🔤 Case Sensitivity Problems

Most Common Issue

"Online" ≠ "online" - Case matters in all comparisons!

⚠️ Whitespace Issues

Hidden spaces cause comparison failures:

What You See	Actual Value	Result
"active"	"active "	Won't match "active"
"online"	" online"	Won't match "online"

Solutions:

• Be aware extra spaces break matches
• Check for leading/trailing spaces in your data
• Clean data at the source when possible

🔢 Text vs Numbers

Important

This block compares TEXT, not numbers! "10" vs "9" gives unexpected results

Quick Reference

When to Use Each Operator

Operator	Use When	Example
Equals (=)	Need exact match	status = "online"
Not Equals (≠)	Need to detect difference	role ≠ "guest"
Includes	Search within text	message includes "error"

Related Blocks

• Number Compare - For numeric comparisons (>, <, >=, <=)
• Logic AND/OR - Combine multiple text comparisons
• IF/Then - Use comparison results to control flow

Fields

Op

Choose how to compare the two text inputs:

• =: Exact match: Returns true only if both inputs are identical (e.g., 'online' = 'online' is true, but 'Online' = 'online' is false due to case sensitivity).
• ≠: Not equal: Returns true if the inputs are different in any way (e.g., useful for 'if status is not offline' or 'if username is not empty' conditions).
• includes: Contains: Returns true if the first input contains the second input anywhere within it (e.g., 'sensor error timeout' includes 'error' would be true).

Inputs

A

Left text value to compare

B

Right text value to compare