What is the difference between "==" and "===" in JavaScript?

The distinction between "==" and "===" in JavaScript is fundamental in understanding how comparisons are made. The operator "==" is known as the equality operator, and it performs a comparison of values while also allowing for type coercion; this means that if the values being compared are of different types, JavaScript will attempt to convert one or both of them into a common type before making the comparison.

On the other hand, "===" is referred to as the strict equality operator. It checks both the value and the data type of the operands, which means that if the types do not match, the comparison will return false without any type conversion taking place. This leads to more predictable and safer code, as it avoids the unintended consequences that can arise from coercing types.

Overall, understanding this distinction is crucial for writing effective JavaScript code and can help prevent logical errors that might occur when using the equality operator. This knowledge also highlights how JavaScript handles type conversions, which can be a source of confusion for many developers.