---
title: "categorical-compare"
slug: "categorical-compare-parser"
updated: 2022-07-27T17:21:29Z
published: 2022-07-27T17:21:29Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://code.tag.bio/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# categorical-compare

The *categorical-compare* **parser** will evaluate or load data from two columns and compare their values. Depending on the value of the *operator* attribute, the comparison will evaluate to *true*, *false*, or *null*.

It inherits attributes and behaviors from its parent: abstract **parser** - *boolean*.

Note - the *columns* attribute supersedes the *column* attribute, which is not used in this **parser** type.

## Attribute - operator

The *operator* attribute is required.

```
{
  "parser_type": "categorical-compare", 
  "columns": [
    {...}, // parser one
    {...}  // parser two 
  ],
  
  // The operator attribute defines a comparison function.
  // Options include: 
  // "=" - equals
  // "!=" - not equals
  // "_=" - lowercase equals
  // "_!=" - lowercase not equals
  // "contains" - parser one value contains parser two value
  // "!contains" - parser one value does not contain parser two value
  // "_contains" - lowercase contains
  // "_!contains" - lowercase not contains
  //
  "operator": "="
}
```

## Attribute - columns

The *columns* attribute is required.

```
{
  "parser_type": "categorical-compare", 
  "operator": "=",
  
  // The columns attribute specifies two column names
  // to produce values for comparison
  //
  "columns": [
    "ccc1", // column one name - a parser will be auto-generated
    "ccc2"  // column two name - a parser will be auto-generated
  ]
}
```

## Attribute - columns as parsers

The *columns* attribute is required.

```
{
  "parser_type": "categorical-compare", 
  "operator": "=",
  
  // The columns attribute specifies two inner parsers to produce
  // values for comparison
  //
  "columns": [
    {...}, // parser one
    {...} // parser two
  ]
}
```