# ne {#ne}

**Parent topic:**[Functions](../../Functions/category.md)

## Syntax {#syntax}

`ne(X, Y)` or `X!=Y`

## Arguments {#arguments}

**X** and **Y** is a scalar/pair/vector/matrix/set. If *X* or *Y* is a pair/vector/matrix, the other is a scalar or a pair/vector/matrix of the same size.

## Details {#details}

If neither *X* nor *Y* is a set, conduct the element-by-element comparison of *X* and *Y*; return 1 if the elements in *X* and *Y* are not the same.

If both *X* and *Y* are sets, check if *X* and *Y* are not identical.

## Examples {#examples}

```
1 2 3 != 2;
// output: [1,0,1]

1 2 3 ne 0 2 4;
// output: [1,0,1]

1:2 != 1:6;
// output: 0 : 1
```

```
m1=1..6$2:3;
m1;
```

|\#0|\#1|\#2|
|---|---|---|
|1|3|5|
|2|4|6|

```
m1 != 4
```

|\#0|\#1|\#2|
|---|---|---|
|1|1|1|
|1|0|1|

```
m2=6..1$2:3;
m2;
```

|\#0|\#1|\#2|
|---|---|---|
|6|4|2|
|5|3|1|

```
m1 ne m2;
```

|\#0|\#1|\#2|
|---|---|---|
|1|1|1|
|1|1|1|

Set operation: If X!=Y then X and Y are not identical.

```
x=set(4 6);
y=set(4 6 8);

x!=y;
// output: 1

x!=x;
// output: 0
```

