When Should You Use `strcmp()` Instead of `==` or `===` in PHP String Comparisons?

String Comparison: == or === vs. strcmp()

In PHP, string comparisons can be performed using the ==, ===, or strcmp() functions. While == checks only for value equality, === verifies both value and type. This raises the question: when is it appropriate to use strcmp()?

One primary reason to utilize strcmp() is because it offers more precise comparison capabilities than == and ===. Unlike these operators, which merely evaluate equality, strcmp() determines the ordering of strings. It returns a negative value if str1 is less than str2, a positive value if str1 is greater than str2, and zero if they are equal.

Consider the following example:

$password = "MyPassword";
$password2 = "mypassword";

if ($password === $password2) {
    // This will evaluate to false because of the case mismatch
}

if (strcmp($password, $password2) == 0) {
    // This will evaluate to true because the strings are identical in value
}

In this scenario, the === comparison would yield false despite the strings being equal in value but not in case. strcmp(), however, correctly identifies that the strings are equal and returns 0.

Therefore, while == and === may suffice for simple comparisons, strcmp() provides a more versatile approach when the ordering of strings is of significance.

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