String Comparison in Batch File

Comparing Strings in Batch File

Batch files are a powerful tool for automating tasks in Windows systems. One common operation performed in batch files is string comparison. String comparison is used to determine if two strings are equal or not. This is useful when you need to perform different actions based on the value of a string.

Creating batch files is simple and typically saved with a .bat file extension we have already explained here. Now, let’s continue learning various methods to compare strings in the Batch file.

Use IF-ELSE Statements

Use IF-ELSE statements to check if two strings are equal in a batch file.

You can use the IF-ELSE statement to compare strings in batch files. The IF statement checks if the strings are equal. The % symbol is used in batch files to enclose variables.

When a variable is enclosed in % symbols, the batch processor replaces it with the variable’s value, and a comparison is made using the == operator. If the IF statement is True/False, the user is informed by displaying a message on the console that your given strings are equal/not equal.

If you have space or special characters in the String, you should always put String in double quotes.

Use EQU Operator

Use the EQU operator to check if two strings are equal in a batch file.

The above code is similar to the previous one, except we used the EQU operator instead of the == operator. The EQU operator checks whether two strings are equal.

Use NEQ Operator

Use the NEQ operator to check if two strings are not equal in a batch file.

We used the NEQ operator to check if two strings were unequal. If the IF statement is True/False, the user is informed by displaying a message on the console that your given strings are not equal or equal.

Considering the above solutions, string comparison is a crucial task in many batch files, and various techniques are available to perform this task. The most commonly used technique is the IF statement, which allows for direct comparison using the == operator.

The EQU and NEQ operators are also available to compare strings for equality and inequality, respectively. The batch file developers can perform string comparisons with ease, helping to streamline the execution of their batch files.

Comparison of String with double quotes in Batch File

If String contains double quotes, use ! rather than % while comparing the String and also enable delayed expansion with SetLocal command.

That’s all about String comparison in Batch File.