---
type: "fhirpath-operator"
title: "FHIRPath Operator: != (not-equals)"
operator: "!="
category: "Equality"
section: "6.1.3"
source: "fhirpath/operations.json"
---
# FHIRPath Operator: != (not-equals)
The converse of the equals operator, returning `true` if equal returns `false`; `false` if equal returns `true`; and empty (`{ }`) if equal returns empty. In other words, `A != B`{:.fhirpath} is short-hand for `(A = B).not()`{:.fhirpath}.
## Summary
- **Category**: Equality
- **Section**: `6.1.3`
- **Left Argument**: `Any`
- **Right Argument**: `Any`
- **Return Type**: `Boolean`
- **Empty Input Result**: `empty`
- **Errors on Multiple Input**: `false`
## Description
The converse of the equals operator, returning `true` if equal returns `false`; `false` if equal returns `true`; and empty (`{ }`) if equal returns empty. Equivalent to `(A = B).not()`.
## Type Mapping
- `String-String`
- `Integer-Integer`
- `Decimal-Decimal`
- `Integer-Decimal`
- `Decimal-Integer`
- `Boolean-Boolean`
- `Date-Date`
- `DateTime-DateTime`
- `Time-Time`
- `Quantity-Quantity`
- `Complex-Complex`