What is the C Three-Way Comparison Operator () and How Does It Work?

Three-Way Comparison Operator in C : Unveiling the Spaceship Operator

In the realm of C , the existence of a peculiar comparison operator, <=>, has piqued the curiosity of many. This puzzling operator is known as the "three-way comparison" operator.

According to the P0515 paper proposal, the <=> operator returns an object that categorizes the comparison result:

• <0 if the left-hand side (lhs) is less than the right-hand side (rhs)
• >0 if lhs is greater than rhs
• ==0 if lhs and rhs are equal or equivalent

The cppreference documentation further elaborates that this three-way comparison operator allows for efficient generation of comparison operators (<, >, <=, >=, ==, !=) based on the return value of the operator<=>:

• If it returns an ordering, operators <, >, <=, >=, ==, and != will be generated efficiently.
• If it returns an equality, operators == and != will be generated efficiently.

In essence, the three-way comparison operator provides a compact and versatile way to perform comparisons in C . It simplifies the implementation of comparison logic and enhances code readability, making it a valuable addition to the C operator repertoire.

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