Comparison operators
Define workflow logic based on comparing numbers, text, or dates
Comparison operators overview
A comparison operator evaluates the relationship between two values and returns a boolean value (true or false).
In Clay, these operators allow you to compare values to define conditions that can drive workflows and decision-making. For example, if a comparison operator evaluates to true, execute a specific action, and if false, take an alternative action.
The most common comparison operators are:
==(Equal to): Returns true if the values are equal.!=(Not equal to): Returns true if the values are not equal.>(Greater than): Returns true if the left value is greater than the right value.<(Less than): Returns true if the left value is less than the right value.>=(Greater than or equal to): Returns true if the left value is greater than or equal to the right value.<=(Less than or equal to): Returns true if the left value is less than or equal to the right value.
When do you use comparison operators?
Common applications of comparison operators in Clay workflows include:
Conditional Branching
Use operators to create if/then logic in your workflows.
Examples
If lead.score > 80, mark as "Hot Lead".
If email.domain contains "[gmail.com](<http://gmail.com>)", categorize as "Personal Email".
Data Validation
Verify data meets specific criteria before processing.
Examples
Ensure company.revenue >= 1000000 for enterprise leads.
Check if [contact.name](<http://contact.name>) is not empty before sending emails.
Data Filtering
Use the Filter feature to refine your table view by applying specific rules to include or exclude records.
Examples
Filter where date.created > "2024-01-01".
Exclude records where status == "Inactive".
Lead Scoring
Implement scoring rules based on multiple criteria.
Examples
If employee_count >= 500 AND industry == "Technology", add 20 points.
If last_activity_date <= "30 days ago", subtract 10 points.
Numeric comparison operators
Numeric operators allow you to compare numerical fields (e.g., Lead Score, Revenue) to apply rules or filter data.
Equal To (==)
Filters records where the value matches exactly.
Example: Include rows where Lead Score = 50.
Not Equal To (!=)
Excludes records where the value matches exactly.
Example: Exclude leads with Revenue == 0.
Greater Than (>)
Includes records where the value is greater than specified.
Example: Show leads with Employee Count > 500.
Greater or Equal To (>=)
Includes records where the value is greater than or equal to specified.
Example: Include accounts with Revenue >= 1,000,000.
Less Than (<)
Includes records where the value is less than specified.
Example: Identify deals with Probability < 50%.
Less or Equal To (<=)
Includes records where the value is less than or equal to specified.
Example: Show tasks with Priority <= 2.
Is Empty
Filters records where the field is blank or missing.
Example: Find rows where Lead Score is empty.
Is Not Empty
Filters records where the field contains a value.
Example: Exclude rows where Lead Score is missing.
String comparison operators
String operators compare text fields (e.g., Names, Email Domains, Industries) to match, include, or exclude records,
Equal To (==)
Checks if the text matches the specified value exactly.
Example: Filter leads where the First name == "John".
Not Equal To (!=)
Excludes records where the text matches the specified value.
Example: Exclude companies where Company Name != "Competitor Inc".
Contains
Filters records that include the specified substring.
Example: Find email domains where Email contains "gmail" (e.g., john@gmail.com).
Contains Any Of
Checks if the text contains any value from a list.
Example: Filter industries where Industry contains any of ["Tech", "Finance"].
Does Not Contain
Excludes records that contain the specified substring.
Example: Filter out email domains where Email does not contain "gmail.com".
Does Not Contain Any Of
Excludes records that contain any values from a specified list.
Example: Filter out industries where Industry does not contain any of ["Retail", "Healthcare"].
Is Empty
Identifies records where the field is blank.
Example: Find leads where First Name is empty.
Is Not Empty
Identifies records where the field contains any value.
Example: Include leads where Email is not empty.
Date comparison operators
Date operators compare date fields (e.g., Created At, Last Updated) to filter or evaluate records based on specific timeframes.
Equal To (==)
Filters records with a date matching the specified value exactly.
Example: Find records where Created At == "2023-01-01".
Not Equal To (!=)
Excludes records with a specific date.
Example: Exclude leads where Created At != "2023-01-01".
Greater Than (>)
Filters records with dates after the specified value.
Example: Show leads where Created At > "2023-01-01".
Greater or Equal To (>=)
Includes records created on or after the specified date.
Example: Find tasks where Due Date >= "2023-01-01".
Less Than (<)
Filters records with dates before the specified value.
Example: Show leads where Created At < "2023-01-01".
Less or Equal To (<=)
Includes records created on or before the specified date.
Example: Find leads where Created At <= "2023-01-01".
Is Empty
Identifies records with no date value in the field.
Example: Find leads where Created At is empty.
Is Not Empty
Identifies records with a date value in the field.
Example: Include records where Created At is empty.
Best Practices
- Test edge cases thoroughly, including empty fields and boundary values
- Include validation for missing or incorrect data
- Provide clear error handling in formulas