What is the key difference between `==` and `===` in JavaScript?

The distinction between == and === in JavaScript lies fundamentally in how they handle type comparison. The == operator, known as the abstract equality operator, performs type coercion. This means that if the values being compared are of different types, JavaScript will attempt to convert one or both of the values to a common type before making the comparison. For instance, if you compare a string to a number, JavaScript will convert the string to a number and then perform the comparison.

In contrast, the === operator, known as the strict equality operator, does not perform any type conversion. It checks both the value and the type of the operands. Therefore, if the types are different, the comparison will immediately return false, regardless of the values. This leads to more predictable behavior and can help prevent subtle bugs that may arise from unintended type coercion.

Understanding this difference is crucial for JavaScript developers, as it allows for more control over how comparisons are made and helps in writing clearer, bug-free code.